Hoax Spam "Explanation"
I'd like to give credit to the originator of this, but I don't remember
where I got it. I know that sharing it without a source violates a general "rule" about
doing that, but it's too good not to, so here you go...
Generic
- Big companies don't do business via chain letters and there are no computer
programs that track how many times an e-mail is forwarded, let alone by whom.
- Do you actually believe that vitally important information would reach the
public only via an AOL chain letter?
- If you absolutely must forward that 10th-generation message (or joke) from a
friend, at least have the decency to trim off the eight miles of headers showing everyone else
who's received it over the last six months. It sure wouldn't hurt to get rid of all
the ".." or ">>" that begin each line either. Besides, if it has gone around that many
times we've probably already seen it.
- As a general rule, e-mail "signatures" and "From:" lines are easily faked and mean nothing.
- If you are one of those insufferable idiots who forwards anything that promises
something bad will happen "if you don't forward it" to X people or within X
timeframe, then something bad will happen to you if I ever meet you in a dark alley.
Specific
- Bill Gates is not giving you $1000, Disney is not giving you a free vacation, and
Nokia is not giving away free cell phones to those who e-mail the most messages. There also is no baby food company issuing class action checks to e-mailers.
- Proctor and Gamble is not part of a satanic cult or scheme, and its logo is not satanic
(rumors started a long time ago by a competitor and perpetuated by some religious organizations).
- MTV will not give you backstage passes if you forward something to the most people.
- The Gap is not giving away free clothes. You can relax; there is no need to pass it
on "just in case it's true."
- There is no "Good Times" or "It Takes Guts To Say Jesus" or any number of other similar
supposed viruses. In fact, you should never, ever,
ever forward any e-mail containing any virus
warning unless you first confirm it at an actual site of an actual company that actually deals
with actual viruses. AOL, for example, is not in the antivirus business -- the fact that
someone says "AOL confirmed the existence of this virus!" is meaningless. (Some would say
AOL itself is a virus, but that's another story.) Try
http://www.symantec.com/avcenter/index.html.
And even if the virus is real, don't forward the warning. We don't care; we have
an antivirus scanner and keep it up to date, and know better than to open unknown file
attachments. You should, too.
- There is no kidney theft ring in New Orleans. No one is waking up in a bathtub full of
ice, even if a friend of a friend of a friend swears it happened to their cousin. If you are
hell bent on believing the kidney theft ring stories, see
http://urbanlegends.tqn.com/library/weekly/aa062997.htm.
And I quote: "The National Kidney Foundation has repeatedly issued requests for actual
victims of organ thieves to come forward and tell their stories." None have. That's
"none" as in "zero." Not even that friend's friend's cousin.
- Neiman Marcus doesn't really sell a $200 cookie recipe. And even if they do, we all
have it. And even if you don't, you can get a copy at
http://www.bl.net/forwards/cookie.html.
Then, if you make the recipe, decide the cookies are that awesome, feel free to pass the
recipe on.
- There were no NASA rocket disasters containing plutonium that spread
radioactive particulates over the eastern seaboard.
- There is no gang initiation plot to murder any motorist who flashes headlights at
another car driving at night with out lights.
- Craig Shergold (or Sherwood, or Sherman, etc.) in England is not dying of cancer or
anything else at this time and would like everyone to stop sending him their business cards.
He apparently is no longer a "little boy" either.
- The "Make a Wish" foundation is a real organization doing fine work, but they have had
to establish a special toll free hot line in response to the large number of Internet hoaxes using their good name and reputation. It is distracting them from the important work they do. Also, the American Cancer Society does not give 3 cents for each person you forward e-mail to. They ask for you to donate money, they don't give it; and, besides, how could they know how many e-mails you sent out? Sheesh.
- Women really are suffering in Afghanistan, but forwarding an e-mail won't help their
cause in the least. If you want to help, contact your local legislative representative,
or get in touch with Amnesty International or the Red Cross.
- KFC really does use real chickens with feathers and beaks and feet and everything.
No, they really do. Why did they change their name? Well, what was KFC's original name?
Kentucky Fried Chicken. In this health conscious world, "Fried" is not healthy.
So with the help of a focus group, they changed the name to KFC. It's short, doesn't
offend dieters, and it's easy to remember.
- Just because someone, four generations back (and who is that person,
anyway?), said in a message that "we checked it out and it's legit" or "we know a lawyer
who says it must be true" or "[Disney/Nokia/AOL/Microsoft/etc.] will be sued!" or any
other similar claim does not actually make it true.
- There is no bill pending before Congress that will allow the Post Office to charge
you for sending e-mail.
...and too many more to do justice to this list.
However, one real site that sounds like a hoax, but isn't, is
The Hunger Site. Try it and do some good.
Bottom Line...
Composing e-mail or posting something on the Net is as easy as writing on the walls of
a public rest room, and about like that as a source of truth. Don't automatically believe
anything... assume it's false, unless there is real proof (and not just someone's
unverified claim) that it's true.
Do some research before sending the message. Don't put the burden on the receiver of
your message to investigate whether it's true or not. Be freakin' responsible.
If you send a message to multiple receivers and it's a hoax, just think -- you're
wasting all those people's time!
Now copy, paste, and send this to everyone you know or the program this message just
covertly put on your hard drive will open up your CD-ROM tray and reach out and slap
you upside the head.
Getting Help
For looking up whether information is real or
a hoax, try one of these sites: