FC: Don't fall for the HIV needles email hoax -- a cautionary tale

From: Declan McCullagh (declanat_private)
Date: Wed May 23 2001 - 07:52:48 PDT

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    From: Max Cacas <MCacasat_private>
    To: "'Declan McCullagh'" <declanat_private>
    Subject: Cautionary tale on using e-mail
    Date: Thu, 17 May 2001 11:57:39 -0400
    
    Declan,
    
    Here's an item that might be interesting to your Politech subscribers.
    
    Today's (5/17/01) Washington Post has what can best be described as a
    "cautionary tale" on indiscriminately using e-mail to pass around seemingly
    innocuous items to friends and colleagues.  It concerns the aide to a top
    official in Fairfax County, Va. who spread what she thought was a credible
    story about HIV-infected needles attached to the bottom of gas station pumps
    - a story that turned out to be a hoax.  By sending the message to 100
    friends and colleagues, the aide set the story loose all over the world, and
    she -- and her boss -- are continuing to pay the price to this day.
    
    The best quote from the story comes from the aide: "I can tell you, after
    this experience, if the sky is falling, no one will hear it from me."
    
    The story headlined "Apocryphal E-Mail Bedevils Va. Sender" can be found on
    washingtonpost.com at:
    
    http://washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A36923-2001May16.html
    
    Cheers,
    - Max
    
    Max Cacas - Senior Online Producer[radio/webcasting]
    Technology & Programs
    The Freedom Forum / Arlington, Va.  USA
    email: mcacasat_private
    http://www.freedomforum.org
    "Inanimate objects are out to screw you." - Fred W. Friendly
    
    
    
    
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