AquariumGate

an anon on the /pol/ board of 4chan recently found a series of locations on google maps labeled as “aquariums” containing a specific format

2 letters (ex: at) followed by the word “aquarium” (ex: tg aquarium)

they are labeled as businesses yet a search of their location photos show residential houses in largely isolated areas with 3 common traits

-A star symbol somewhere out front
– an RV, Camper, or covered truck
-no discernable signs of consistent use (very little sitting in yards, nothing requiring highly active upkeep like a garden, little if any decor or lawn equipment out front etc.)

these locations addresses are also not labeled in the usual way, typically being shown as address ranges over the span of a street

example: HR Aquarium- Prosper, TX 75078, 100-398 E 6th St

one of these locations had a sign that also employed the standard star symbol across them “protected by ClearStar” which lead anons to a shady website from the 1990’s with locked sections, unusual symbolism, and a bizarre “smile” page with uncanny quotes as well as a complete inability to look at their “marketplace” without a username and password. this is all for what claims to be a locksmithing service

additionally, no pages have been found associated with these addresses selling fish or aquarium goods, and no tax records nor copyright or LLC records exist that would imply that these are home businesses used for tax purposes. these sorts of locations with the same 2letter-aquarium format have been found globally on goggle maps but with the highest concentration, and initially located in, Austin Texas with an abnormally intense cluster of them in the region.

From y83ek – Spectre (klgrth.io)

Date 20 August 2022

What is AquariumGate?
On 8 August 2022, an anon stumbled upon strange “aquariums” on google maps. These “aquariums” are literally just addresses on residential streets. Some have reviews about how awesome the “aquarium” is, despite the fact that there is no such aquarium.

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WORLD OF TROPICS
Westside, Houston, Texas 77057, US
Coordinates: 29.742275, -95.490038
Telephone: (713) 783-8443

https://www.yellowpages.com/houston-tx/mip/world-of-tropics-460221317
https://www.ibegin.com/directory/us/texas/houston/world-of-tropics-/
https://www.helpmecovid.com/us/6280419_world-of-tropics
https://zaubee.com/biz/world-of-tropics-415i0rhs
https://www.google.com/maps/place/World+of+Tropics/@29.7503969,-95.611301,39806m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m9!1m2!2m1!1saquarium!3m5!1s0x8640c3e955555555:0x7f7b896de6212579!8m2!3d29.7503969!4d-95.4935119!15sCghhcXVhcml1bZIBCGFxdWFyaXVt

Reviewed 3 stars by user Bernardo Soria – https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/101636295190492150114/photos/@33.8016093,-103.3668026,6z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m3!8m2!3m1!1e1?hl=en-US
Has very few submitted pictures on the account. Unidentified child appears twice in two separate images (his child?), and another picture is of a warehouse belonging to Rey Tex Gutters. (this individuals needs more investigation)

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SOUTHERN AQUARIUM
Addicks / Park Ten, Houston, Texas 77084, US
Phone: (281) 460-3278
SIC Code: 5999, Miscellaneous Retail Stores, NEC
NAICS Code: 45391001, undefined

https://www.superpages.com/houston-tx/bpp/southern-aquarium-5523957
https://zaubee.com/biz/southern-aquarium-jmo2zqf1
https://www.yellowpages.com/houston-tx/mip/southern-aquarium-5523957
https://www.manta.com/c/mm67dlj/southern-aquarium
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Southern+Aquarium/@29.7349846,-95.6238695,39812m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m9!1m2!2m1!1saquarium!3m5!1s0x8640d99555555555:0xd9d1f139a6ec12ae!8m2!3d29.8296506!4d-95.6668306!15sCghhcXVhcml1bZIBCGFxdWFyaXVt

Submitted picture by user Puppylover2 – https://www.google.com/maps/place/Southern+Aquarium/@29.8309774,-95.6668417,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipP1BRcImYC_0ah61T52MUeTQuLflEzAGTUTBpQe!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipP1BRcImYC_0ah61T52MUeTQuLflEzAGTUTBpQe%3Dw203-h270-k-no!7i3024!8i4032!4m11!1m2!2m1!1saquarium!3m7!1s0x8640d99555555555:0xd9d1f139a6ec12ae!8m2!3d29.8296506!4d-95.6668306!14m1!1BCgIgAQ!15sCghhcXVhcml1bZIBCGFxdWFyaXVt
Upon investigating the red crystal image, it appears to originate about 15 years ago on flickr from the user, Zammelal Abdullah Sani.

He states “The crystal is glowing red because of the UV light. Again, I forgot to jot down its name.” The Abdullah Sani person appears to be a photographer who takes pictures of flowers and has two pictures of kids whom he claims are related. (Who is he? Needs investigating)

Puppylover2 appears to be a child based on the reviews posted. One review is of the “Dance Kollective” in 23541 Westheimer Pkwy Suite 220, Katy, TX 77494. The review is one star and states “I love it not”.
https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/106781443837312100998/place/ChIJB38TKtshQYYRAuhG5Va24g4/@35.0974599,-90.3021341,6z/data=!4m6!1m5!8m4!1e1!2s106781443837312100998!3m1!1e1
https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Dance+Kollective/@29.7328835,-95.7751053,3a,75y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipPjgs5ZjcIxfE9vTf8oQZkaHmCOaf1LmiXXrz6g!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipPjgs5ZjcIxfE9vTf8oQZkaHmCOaf1LmiXXrz6g%3Dw203-h202-k-no!7i1242!8i1241!4m13!1m5!8m4!1e1!2s106781443837312100998!3m1!1e1!3m6!1s0x864121db2a137f07:0xee2b656e546e802!8m2!3d29.7325082!4d-95.7754549!14m1!1BCgIgAQ
Submitted images of the “Dance Kollective” include scantily clad young girls with loads of makeup. (Needs more investigation)

Reviewed 1 star by user Travis Stoltman –
https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/104000993673531430105/reviews/@29.8296506,-95.6668306,17z/data=!4m3!8m2!3m1!1e1?hl=en-US
This is his only review on the account, stating “Didn’t even have any sharks. Popcorn machine was broken too.” (This needs more investigating. An aquarium doesn’t normally contain a “popcorn machine”. Just what is this? Seems like euphemisms especially considering that there is no real aquarium)

Reviewed 4 stars by user Julia Martinez –
https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/104349446400917740144/reviews/@29.8296506,-95.6668306,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m3!8m2!3m1!1e1?hl=en-US
This is the only review on the account. (Who is this?)

Reviewed 4 stars by user Juan Zhao –
https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/101210572113259592869/reviews/@44.9932928,-93.4959179,15z/data=!4m3!8m2!3m1!1e1?hl=en-US
Review was deleted by user, but still appears only on the Southern Aquarium google page. (Who is this?)

Reviewed 3 stars by user Joseph Caron –
https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/115883478399100365372/reviews/@29.7941843,-95.7369351,13z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m3!8m2!3m1!1e1?hl=en-US
Only other review is on an Italian restaurant. (strange how many of these reviewers have few posted reviews. Why are these individuals?)

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H R AQUARIUM
2799-2601, Oak Ave, Pasadena, Texas 77502, US
(No further information)

https://zaubee.com/biz/h-r-aquarium-2mkovpte
https://www.helpmecovid.com/us/6872231_h-r-aquarium
https://www.google.com/maps/place/H+R+Aquarium/@29.7426449,-95.6551576,11z/data=!4m10!1m3!2m2!1saquarium!6e1!3m5!1s0x864099e89f528a47:0xb26ff8bf927da993!8m2!3d29.6720454!4d-95.1742641!15sCghhcXVhcml1bZIBCGFxdWFyaXVt

Reviewed 5 stars by user Carolina Flores –
https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/112202028101893127094/reviews/@37.4143803,-111.6595613,5z?hl=en-US
This user has 22 reviews and has 6 posted images. 5 of the images include children (her children? The kids in question are all hispanic). One of the images is posted from the Terra Bella Hotel Boutique in Av. De La Revolucion 175, San Salvador, El Salvador. (Possible trafficking from 3rd world nation? Needs investigation)
One of her reviews is for a company called “Snap Finance”. (The business has no images. Why? where is the office?) One review for snap Finance states “My company is a Snap merchant and the merchant support is abominable. I discovered an issue where orders were being approved by them but were obviously fraudulent. I tried to contact them regarding the problems and apparently fraud is not taken seriously”. (Snap Finance seems to engage in fraudulent activity. What is their connection to Carolina Flores and are they possibly engaging in money laundering for trafficked children? Needs more investigation)
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Snap+Finance/@46.0068929,-132.2931106,4z/data=!4m10!1m3!8m2!1e1!2s112202028101893127094!3m5!1s0x87528b370859e9bf:0xb455dedf40ee99d1!8m2!3d45.1575501!4d-128.1448585!16s%2Fg%2F11css0nyfd?hl=en-US

Reviewed 5 stars by user Seanathan Davidson –
https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/111321480813455594160/reviews/@33.0707902,-80.7751633,4z/data=!4m3!8m2!3m1!1e1?hl=en-US
This user is likely a red herring. His review was posted after the first /tag/ thread was posted on 4chan which makes it suspect. His review states “Honestly the best Aquarium I’ve ever been to! Be sure to ask what Pete keeps in the back (Hint: It’s a shark!) Great meat Sandwiches too! Overall great place would definitely recommend.”
This user has a review of Aden Adde International Airport Mogadishu Somalia, wherein he states “Not the best place for a morning martini, but really great customer service and really really really good Cocaine. Would recommend, mostly because the cocaine but really good really really good.”
Another review posted by him is of the Solomons Temple Islands in Nunavut Canada. He states “Be sure to check in with the “big guy” otherwise you’ll be disappointed. Great selection of Hotdogs, would definitely recommend.”
https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Temple+of+the+One./@75.3889318,-96.9221512,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m10!1m3!8m2!1e1!2s111321480813455594160!3m5!1s0x51dba7856a1e74f3:0x4083d5cfe1ec308a!8m2!3d75.3889305!4d-96.9199572!16s%2Fg%2F11n6yc49y7?hl=en-US
(Davidson may be a 4chan user seeking to derail /tag/ for some quick laughs.)

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TS AQUARIUM
218-398 Sabine St, Orchard, TX 77464, USA
(No further information)

https://www.helpmecovid.com/us/5750959_ts-aquarium
https://www.google.com/maps/place/TS+Aquarium/@29.6354064,-95.8440399,11z/data=!4m10!1m3!2m2!1saquarium!6e1!3m5!1s0x86411766d3b5450d:0x529b15ef968d327d!8m2!3d29.6050045!4d-95.9671658!15sCghhcXVhcml1bZIBCGFxdWFyaXVt

There are no reviews. However if you search “”TS Aquarium” Houston” on google, you will find links to a lot of strange looking sex websites. (needs investigating)
https://www.google.com/search?q=%22TS+Aquarium%22+houston&oq=%22TS+Aquarium%22+houston&aqs=chrome.0.69i59.1660j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

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TD AQUARIUM
27200, 27250 Orth Ln, Oak Ridge North, Texas 77385, US
(No further information)

https://zaubee.com/biz/td-aquarium-x4kapgb1
https://www.helpmecovid.com/us/4290434_td-aquarium
https://www.google.com/maps/place/TD+Aquarium/@29.7615387,-95.4948361,10z/data=!4m10!1m3!2m2!1saquarium!6e1!3m5!1s0x864737c9275155b5:0x385ca01085d38cad!8m2!3d30.1597445!4d-95.4448183!15sCghhcXVhcml1bZIBCGFxdWFyaXVt

There are no reviews and nothing of note shows up if “”TD Aquarium” Houston” is google searched.

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E C AQUARIUM
11601, 11699 Bennie Rd, Tomball, Texas 77375, US
(No further information)

https://zaubee.com/biz/e-c-aquarium-yczh169x
https://www.helpmecovid.com/us/3224884_e-c-aquarium
https://www.google.com/maps/place/E+C+Aquarium/@29.8036747,-95.7924504,10z/data=!4m10!1m3!2m2!1saquarium!6e1!3m5!1s0x86472da4a8eb4367:0xb430b359d995264e!8m2!3d30.1218969!4d-95.5960144!15sCghhcXVhcml1bZIBCGFxdWFyaXVt

There are two reviews, but they’re almost certainly made by /pol/ users as a joke. The reviews are very new. Nothing of note shows up if “”TD Aquarium” Houston” is google searched.

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OS AQUARIUM
13199-1 Live Oak Ln, Old River-Winfree, TX 77535, USA
(No further information)

https://zaubee.com/biz/os-aquarium-4aw10kb6
https://soamaps.com/country/US/5925507/os-aquarium
https://www.helpmecovid.com/us/6298066_os-aquarium
https://www.google.com/maps/place/OS+Aquarium/@29.8036747,-95.7924504,10z/data=!4m10!1m3!2m2!1saquarium!6e1!3m5!1s0x863f45d0941b6b79:0x1565b741ef88431b!8m2!3d29.880609!4d-94.8287589!15sCghhcXVhcml1bZIBCGFxdWFyaXVt

There are no reviews. Some interesting information shows up if “”OS Aquarium” Houston” is googled. Namely a document from 2003, but it doesn’t seem related. https://oceanshores.civicweb.net/document/392/

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TF AQUARIUM
600-798 N Pine Hill St, Pinehurst, TX 77362, USA
(No further information)

https://www.helpmecovid.com/us/5735011_tf-aquarium
https://zaubee.com/biz/tf-aquarium-zdkvt0ui
https://www.google.com/maps/place/TF+Aquarium/@29.8036747,-95.7924504,10z/data=!4m10!1m3!2m2!1saquarium!6e1!3m5!1s0x86472932dc336215:0x177005da828d6021!8m2!3d30.1661517!4d-95.689095!15sCghhcXVhcml1bZIBCGFxdWFyaXVt

There are no reviews. When “”TF Aquarium” Houston” is googled, some sex websites are displayed on the last pages.
https://www.google.com/search?q=%22TF+Aquarium%22+houston&sxsrf=ALiCzsaVC0Wh-t-c8SmLbV7UTQnSCV_3Gg:1661037449389&ei=iWsBY-KkF-iIptQPhLSQ0AI&start=10&sa=N&ved=2ahUKEwiijYTZxtb5AhVohIkEHQQaBCoQ8tMDegQIARA9&cshid=1661037511612857&biw=2327&bih=1201&dpr=1.1

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M A AQUARIUM (Temporarily closed?)
608-720 Ft Bend Dr, Wallis, TX 77485, USA
(No further information)

https://www.helpmecovid.com/us/5308079_m-a-aquarium
https://www.google.com/maps/place/M+A+Aquarium/@30.030524,-96.077239,10z/data=!4m10!1m3!2m2!1saquarium!6e1!3m5!1s0x86413f33b7b93bbd:0xccae7b157d345cc1!8m2!3d29.6865934!4d-96.0005972!15sCghhcXVhcml1bZIBCGFxdWFyaXVt

There are no reviews. When “”M A Aquarium” Houston” is googled, many sex websites are displayed, roughly 8 pages.

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AT AQUARIUM
100-398 E 6th St, Prosper, TX 75078, USA
(No further information)

https://www.helpmecovid.com/us/2960370_at-aquarium
https://www.google.com/maps/place/AT+Aquarium/@32.8673973,-96.9966062,10.5z/data=!4m10!1m3!2m2!1saquarium!6e6!3m5!1s0x864c3fb69fe5bb7f:0x9f4d28d39482e7f0!8m2!3d33.2381625!4d-96.80023!15sCghhcXVhcml1bZIBCGFxdWFyaXVt

There are no reviews. When “”AT Aquarium” Dallas” is googled, too many irrelevant results drown out anything that may be of importance
https://www.google.com/search?q=%22AT+Aquarium%22+Dallas&sxsrf=ALiCzsbECn_VbYBzp8_Bb08nwbVWdW71GA:1661038877324&ei=HXEBY6HEE5mpptQPq6iAsA8&start=0&sa=N&ved=2ahUKEwjhxvaBzNb5AhWZlIkEHSsUAPY4ChDy0wN6BAgZEDo&biw=2327&bih=1201&dpr=1.1

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EH AQUARIUM
601-609 W Avenue D, Midlothian, TX 76065, United States
(No further information)

https://loginarchive.com/us/eh-aquarium-642891

In the /tag/ threads, one anon posted an image where it shows up in google maps, however I could not find it. This “aquarium” appears to be deleted from google maps, but still appears in scraping websites like the one above.
https://boards.4chan.org/pol/thread/391801809#p391803115

Googling “”EH Aquarium” Dallas” reveals nothing of note.

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YP AQUARIUM
598-500 W Palestine St, Hutchins, TX 75141, USA
(No further information)

https://www.helpmecovid.com/us/5754551_yp-aquarium

Much like the EH Aquarium, this also appears to have been removed from google maps some time in the past 20 or so hours. (VERY strange. definitely needs to be investigated if possible)

in the early /tag/ threads, this location appears to have been reviewed by a user called Ahmed Mohamed and given 5 stars (possible to investigate?)
https://boards.4chan.org/pol/thread/391801809#p391808971

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M G AQUARIUM (temporarily closed?)
398-300 Jim Hogg Ave, West Columbia, TX 77486, United States
(No further information)

https://www.helpmecovid.com/us/2711376_m-g-aquarium
https://trbul.net/US-m-g-aquarium-west-columbia-texas/
https://zaubee.com/biz/m-g-aquarium-tsq3i1rx
https://nicelocal.com/texas/entertainment/m_g_aquarium/ (This website gives the following description for the “aquarium”: “How do you prefer to amuse yourself? Is it shopping, a luna park, driving? Try something new with M G Aquarium. In our leisure time, we should repay ourselves for the labor we made at the job. The holiday enables you to obtain wellbeing, new experience and drives you to go further. So, holiday should bring gladness and amounts of the dopamine hormone to our neural system! This hormone supports a feeling of gratification.”)
https://www.instagram.com/mg_aquarium09/ (Is this account related? some weird Indian selling “fish” for cash only, but the posts are made in english. Could this be a euphemism for CP?)
https://www.google.com/maps/place/M+G+Aquarium/@29.1411915,-95.6483351,15.25z/data=!4m9!1m2!2m1!1saquarium!3m5!1s0x864051ea716231ad:0x28e952fe5385b7b4!8m2!3d29.1395108!4d-95.6445509!15sCghhcXVhcml1bZIBCGFxdWFyaXVt

Googling “”M G Aquarium” West Columbia” reveals a few more weird sex websites
https://www.google.com/search?q=%22M+G+Aquarium%22+west+columbia&sxsrf=ALiCzsaHmu5V1GnXLTa4FVYCBjlEejL2sw:1661040531302&ei=k3cBY7CAEqCvptQPnbmewAw&start=10&sa=N&ved=2ahUKEwjwlc2W0tb5AhWgl4kEHZ2cB8g4FBDy0wN6BAgBEDw&biw=2327&bih=1201&dpr=1.1

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TU AQUARIUM
301-313 Newfield St, Venus, TX 76084, USA
(No further information)

https://www.helpmecovid.com/us/2696645_tu-aquarium
https://soamaps.com/country/US/2695299/tu-aquarium

Yet another “aquarium” to have disappeared from google maps. I could only find them on other websites.

Googling “”TU Aquarium” venus” reveals a lot of sex websites.
https://www.google.com/search?q=%22TU+Aquarium%22+venus&sxsrf=ALiCzsaN-TatSkJHc7RUXI60HlsF8IlrJg:1661040647037&ei=B3gBY4PxAdSGptQPzP-hqA8&start=20&sa=N&ved=2ahUKEwjDkOXN0tb5AhVUg4kEHcx_CPUQ8tMDegQIARA9&cshid=1661040810859505&biw=2327&bih=1201&dpr=1.1

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KL AQUARIUM
12301, 12201 Thornbriar Dr, Brookside Village, TX 77581, USA
(No further information)

https://zaubee.com/biz/kl-aquarium-vh48bqnr
https://www.helpmecovid.com/us/3925322_kl-aquarium
https://nicelocal.com/texas/entertainment/kl_aquarium/ (This website gives the following description for KL Aquarium: “Hard work? Let it out! People could do it with KL Aquarium. There you can allow yourself to lose the drudgery and just loosen up. The ambiance they make will create for you a special mood. The receptionist of the firm will advise about promotions. Ask them how it is possible to save money being a first-time or regular customer.”)

Googling reveals nothing of note.

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P E AQUARIUM
263-201 E Plum St, Angleton, TX 77515, USA
(No further information)

https://www.helpmecovid.com/us/5755252_p-e-aquarium

Another location gone from google maps.

Googling reveals some sex websites, but not much else.
https://www.google.com/search?q=%22P+E+Aquarium%22+angleton&sxsrf=ALiCzsZoe2JBJ_YouxMB4jgNzusT74xh4w:1661041251709&ei=Y3oBY4X4KvaZptQP3NecqAM&start=0&sa=N&ved=2ahUKEwjFtY_u1Nb5AhX2jIkEHdwrBzU4ChDy0wN6BAgBEDo&biw=2327&bih=1201&dpr=1.1

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