Send This Email to 10 People and Something Good Will Happen - Why You Shouldn't!
Posted: Tuesday, April 01, 2008
by Lorrie Davids
We have all gotten the emails that promise a blessing or something good' when we have forwarded the email to the specified number of people. Often there is a warning of doom if you don't comply. Do you really know what is in those emails? Have you ever forwarded them on and waited for your surprise? Have you ever wondered if anyone really knows if you have disregarded the message? Somebody knows.
In many emails there is embedded code. That code captures your info and the info of all those who are receiving the message once you hit send'. It is what may be done with this information that should be scary to everyone. Lists with your details and the information of your friends are added to various databases which are bought and sold to those in various and sometimes not-so-legit businesses. What happens next?
Ever wonder how and why you get all that spam mail? How did you end up on all those mailing lists? Why is adult content going to people that would never consider subscribing to it? Yep, that is right, The List. You have now become a very attractive target.
Government agencies have been known to utilize The List. If you have forwarded these emails, think back. Have you been called for jury duty more frequently lately? What is your tax status? Do you owe anything to the IRS? Have your real estate taxes increased more than you think they should?
People that forward the send to 10 people' emails are considered to be those who will not question what happens to them, They are seen as people who will believe anything that is on the internet and are therefore at the mercy of the sometimes merciless.
What to do?
First: When you receive an email that promises something will happen, at least delete that paragraph from the email immediately. The longer it stays there, the better the chance you will forget it is part of the email and accidently forward it to your friends and business associates.
Second: Better yet, delete the email in question as soon as you have read it and never, never forward it to anyone.
Third: Alert your friends to this problem. Once they know about it, they will not want to be a victim of The List either.
If we are all vigilant we can greatly curtail if not eliminate the agenda of government and businesses agencies invading our privacy.
Ever wonder how and why you get all that spam mail? How did you end up on all those mailing lists? Why is adult content going to people that would never consider subscribing to it? Yep, that is right, The List. You have now become a very attractive target.
Government agencies have been known to utilize The List. If you have forwarded these emails, think back. Have you been called for jury duty more frequently lately? What is your tax status? Do you owe anything to the IRS? Have your real estate taxes increased more than you think they should?
People that forward the send to 10 people' emails are considered to be those who will not question what happens to them, They are seen as people who will believe anything that is on the internet and are therefore at the mercy of the sometimes merciless.
What to do?
First: When you receive an email that promises something will happen, at least delete that paragraph from the email immediately. The longer it stays there, the better the chance you will forget it is part of the email and accidently forward it to your friends and business associates.
Second: Better yet, delete the email in question as soon as you have read it and never, never forward it to anyone.
Third: Alert your friends to this problem. Once they know about it, they will not want to be a victim of The List either.
If we are all vigilant we can greatly curtail if not eliminate the agenda of government and businesses agencies invading our privacy.
This Article has been viewed 5,868 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
More commentsThanks for this info. I usually delete or re-write them and send if I find the msg look good sometimes...I'm with you! Thanks for commenting on my April Fool's Day article. It was fun to write, even if it wasn't totally true.
I've been telling people this for YEARS and they DON'T BELIEVE ME!!I ask ya, what are people thinking? They don't listen to you?
Great article L.M., and so true. I used to accept everything I received until I got on so many spammers lists, I was getting porn from Korea! I've changed my email address at least twice that I remember because of being unable to stop the spam. I've got to where I am very cautious, in fact I won't even open mail unless I have a good idea it is legitimate. One of the shrewdest scams you may run into is receiving a really authentic looking letter from a bank, logo and all even with a return URL by the bank name, etc. They will want you to click on a link to confirm something about your account. I've received a number of those but was fortunate enough that the first one was from a bank which I have no account with so I knew it was a fake. I have had several since, once from the bank I do business with. And one from Pay pal with whom I have an account, but instead of clicking on their link, I looked up the real email address for the businesses and forwarded the phishing letter to them. All banks will tell you they never ask for any such information as these allegedly do via email. Thanks for sharing.Good morning, Mr. Hendon. Well, I have a confession to make. Most of the article wasn't true, but who knows, by next year, it may be. This was my AFD prank and judging from all the responses, it went off pretty well. My other articles are truly my opinion and/or factual, but this one...well, I just couldn't resist. I do agree with you on all the spammy emails we are bombarded with each day. I don't respond to anything from any corporation - federal or commercial, unless I initiate the email. Have a wonderful Spring day!
OK. This was a joke right? For April Fools Day?Yes, this article was a joke. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Looks more like an April Facts Day write up to me.. except that the secret code thing in all mails is still not imaginable..unless it is being done by Govts of course.
Although I've read this article 60 days late, Iam very grateful for it. Thanks alot LMThat's OK, Jonathan - I'm just glad you read it and commented. Thanks!
Well, you really had me going there! I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out to be true....so much deceit these days. For the record, when the message in the email is inspiring, I cut and paste it into a new email and delete the part about forwarding. BTW, you're a great writer!Thanks, Brenda, for reading and commenting! I appreciate it.
You had me right up until the second to last paragraph. At that point it started to sound a little too far fetched. But good job anyway, this article definitely got my attention.As far as my own emails go, I only respond to those people I know and only if they send me a personal note, not some forwarded stuff.Thanks, David, for reading and commenting. Sorry I am so slow in responding. I somehow missed your comment when it was left. This was my attempt at a little
April Fool's fun. I am enjoying your poems. It is good to have you here at SearchWarp.Have you read my poem called, "The Chain Letter"? If you haven't, I think you would get a kick out of it.David
THIS IS FAKE? !!!!!!HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS?!!!!!Yep, this is a prank of sorts. Check out the date at the top of the article. I know this because I wrote it. I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.
I've got to tell you that occasionally I am guilty of sending some of this stuff on - not for any reward or anything like that but mostly because I liked the cause - like some of the petitions. Well, I've learned that it's bogus stuff. Now I hit the delete button; it's just as easy as D E L E T E - don't you love it?
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