Many people can become involved when a distress signal is picked up.  Rescue coordination Center personnel track down the signal and the owner of the beacon, trying to determine its validity.  Search and rescue teams and assets are dispatched.  That could include search aircraft and spotter crews, ground search teams, Coast Guard units and private vessels.  In search and rescue the difference between life and death can sometimes be measured in minutes.  Trying up these search and rescue resources means that valuable time could be lost if a real distress occurs at the same time in that sector.

Time is not the only thing wasted with a false alert.  It is expensive to launch search assets and equipment.  In addition, paid personnel are taken off other duties and volunteers leave their jobs and families to participate.