Chain e-mails can be fun. But many a time they are just repeats. Some need to be censored (I am referring to the highly graphic ones, more on those e-mails later), and then there are those propoganda ones, and others that are just stale, stupid and boring leading to unproductivity in the work place. But here's one that not only reflects how crass the senders of the mail are but also exposes their insatiable greed for things that are not rightfully theirs. Instead of explaining what this e-mail is all about I am reproducing my reply to the sender, everything verbatim. Read on. Although in the e-mail I have mentioned that only the current sender's email will be hidden I have given the benefit of doubt to all those who were recepients of the mail and also have hidden the address of those senders who forwarded this chain letter without writing anything (assuming they just forwarded the mail with the purpose to inform).
As I was deleting the names and email-id's I also realised that some of them have been carried away so much by the scam that they have sent these mails to several of their own personal e-mail addresses and back to the e-mail addresses of the senders of the e-mail too. Does greed have a limit for these guys?
Hello SathiMama,
Perfectly said, "A joke" indeed. Before I start the fireworks on this e-mail, I wish you a very Happy New Year, 2006.
I am also sorry that that I have to reply in this fashion but this mail is certainly not addressed to you or to those of you who have forwarded it with the intention of entertainment or to inform. But it certainly goes out to those greedy dumb asses who thought there's no risk in making some money for free by making use of company's mail servers and the conveniences that a working environment provides. These guys just didn't know how much their dignity was at stake because their names are going to be on everybody's email (as it is in this one forwarded to me) all over the world. Just about anyone to whom this mail has been forwarded could be reading it and what is sad is that most of them are Indians. Just take a look at these guys from Cognizant, Patni, TCS, Iflex, and Xansa (the list is endless) and the stuff they have written. It's a shame that these guys most of them software professionals (there are Managers in the list, and some could be Directors too) working for the so called top IT companies, most of them MNC's, have to resort to this, divulging both personal and company information (including addresses, phone and fax numbers). These guys are so obsessed with making money quick that they don't even know that there's something called the INTERNET. Most of them spend hours a day surfing the net at work for things not even remotely connected to work and yet when such a mail as this arrives they hardly search for the veracity of the statements. Why not? Because forwarding this mail to hundreds of their friends in a mailing list is easier than searching the net for the truth. Afterall if it were true then why not get their share of that free money! Little do these people know that this entire email thing is a hoax and it has been going on since the late 90's. Just take a read at the mails and you will not believe the dumbness and the greed of these pathetic folk. It's a shame on Indians who are being touted at the world's leading IT labour force. The image of the rest of us is also tarnished.
Please forward this mail to your friends so that they can stop the spread of this shameful act of greed and stupidity not knowing what a big hoax the original email is.
For more information on this email hoax check out the links below:
http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blmsaol.htm
http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org/HBGiveAways.shtml#billgates
And these suckers need to know one more thing. I don't need free money. I know how to earn it the right way and if I do get free money I know whom to give it to and how to dispose it appropriately.
Rgds,
Subash.
P.S - I will also be posting this mail on my blog http://subashsworld.blogspot.com so that more readers can learn from this email episode and also spread the news and prevent further damage from being done. All e-mail addresses that you have forwarded to including yours will be concealed. The rest will all be exposed because if these guys were willing to expose themselves and their friends by simply forwarding such mails, then why not on my blog. I am sure this e-mail is being forwarded by someone, somewhere on this earth even as I am writing this reply.
>From: "XXXXXXXXXX"
>To: XXXXXXXXXX
>Subject: FW: Fwd: FW: FW: UK Requirement
>Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 05:35:58 +0000
>
>
>This must be a joke!!!!!!!!
>
>
>Sathish
>
>
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>From: XXXX
>Date: Dec 28, 2005 10:32 AM
>
>Subject: Fwd: FW: FW: UK Requirement
>To: XXXX
>Cc: XXXX
>xxxx@yahoo.com>, xxxx
>xxxx@mail.schneider.fr>, xxxx
>xxxx@yahoo.co.in>, xxxx
>xxxx@yahoo.com>, xxxx
>xxxx@yahoo.com>, xxxx
>xxxx@autocarindia.com>, xxxx
>xxxx@hotmail.com>, xxxx
>xxxx@gmail.com>
>
>
>Note: forwarded message attached.
>
>
>Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less
>
>
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>From: "Karan Bali"
>To: xxxx <
>xxxx.vsnl.net.in>, "xxxx"
>xxxx@yahoo.com>, xxxx
>xxxx@hotmail.com>, xxxx
>xxx@hotmail.com>, xxxx
>xxxx@hotmail.com>, xxx
>xxxx@bom3.vsnl.net.in>, xxxx
>xxxx@hotmail.com>, xxxx
>xxxx@vsnl.com>, xxxx
>xxxx@bom8.vsnl.net.in>, xxxx
>xxxx@hotmail.com>, xxxx
>xxxx@hotmail.com>, xxxx
>xxxx@bom3.vsnl.net.in>, xxxx
>xxxx@yahoo.com>, xxxx
>xxxx@in.ibm.com>, xxxx
>xxxx@yahoo.com>, xxxx
>xxxx@cal3.vsnl.net.in>, xxxx
>xxxx@yahoo.com>, xxxx
>xxx@yahoo.com>, xxxx
>xxxx@yahoo.co.uk>, xxxx
>xxxx@vsnl.com>, xxxx
>xxxx@hotmail.com>, xxxx
>@tech.purdue.edu>, <@rediffmail.com>, <
>@bom8.vsnl.net.in>, <@rediffmail.com>, <
>@staffs.ac.uk>, <@hotmail.com>, <
>@bom7.vsnl.net.in>, <@yahoo.com>, <
>@vsnl.net>, <@yahoo.com>, <@hotmail.com>, @hotmail.com>, <@yahoo.com>, @hotmail.com>, @yahoo.co.uk>
>Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2005 08:17:28 +0530
>Subject: FW: FW: UK Requirement
>
>I never fwd this normally but there are emails from people down this list actually saying they've got money...so let's see...
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>From: xxxxxx [mailto:
>xxxx@gmail.com]
>Sent: Wednesday, December 28, 2005 7:48 AM
>To: xxxx@cbn.net.id
>; @hotmail.com; @yahoo.com; @gmail.com;
>@rediffmail.com; @mdentertainment.net; @mdentertainment.net;
>@rediffmail.com; @hotmail.com;
>@gmail.com; @hotmail.com;
>@yahoo.com; @mdentertainment.net;
>@yahoo.com; @yahoo.com;
>@mdentertainment.net; @mdentertainment.net; ;
>@yahoo.com; @yahoo.com;
>@yahoo.com; @yahoo.com
>Subject: Fwd: FW: UK Requirement
>
>
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>From: mukta dhond <
>mervielles@gmail.com>
>Date: Dec 27, 2005 2:01 PM
>Subject: Fwd: FW: UK Requirement
>To: <@willis.com>, @secutechautomation.com, <
>@gmail.com>, <@gmail.com>, >@hotmail.com >, @hotmail.com, <
>@gmail.com>, <@hotmail.com >, N D <
>@yahoo.co.in>, <@rediffmail.com>,
>@yahoo.com, <@hotmail.com>, <
>@yahoo.com>, Sunjoy Shekhar < sunjoy.shekhar@gmail.com>,
>@hotmail.com, mukta69@hotmail.com,
>mukta.dhond@rediffmail.com
>
>
>it never hurts to get money for doing no work whatsoever. n i shouldnt get stinkers in return cause i usually dont send forwards. ever. n helps if bill gates shells out some of his vast riches which poor thing worked his butt out for.
>
>mukta
>
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>From: Deepali Kelkar <
>deepali@secutechautomation.com >
>Date: Dec 27, 2005 1:19 PM
>Subject: FW: UK Requirement
>To:
>xxxxxx
>
>
>Lets all try maybe it could go in our international travel fund !!!!
>
>Warmest Regards
>
>Deepali Kelkar
>
>Head - Corporate Relations
>
>Projects & Engg Division
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
>PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGE IN OUR ADDRESS & TELEPHONE NOS
>
>
>Secutech Automation (I) Pvt Ltd
>
>Corp Off : G-3, Sheetala Darshan,
>L.J Road, Mahim, Mumbai -400016. India
>24 Hrs Support Lines : +91-22-2446 9 444 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8
>Fax Support Line : +91-22-2446 9 449
>
>E-Mail :
>secutech@secutechautomation.com
>
>Internet :
>
>www.secutechautomation.com
>
>
>From: VIKAS GARKHEL /RCIG/IBANK/BKC [mailto:
>vikas.garkhel@icicibank.com]
>Sent: Monday, December 26, 2005 5:14 PM
>
>Subject: FW: UK Requirement
>Sensitivity: Personal
>
>
>I don't know whether this is true or not.. Just a try :-)
>
>
>Regards,
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: DEVENDRA NEGI /RCIG/IBANK/AMH
>
>Sent: 26 December 2005 16:56
>To: DEVENDRA NEGI /RCIG/IBANK/AMH
>Subject: FW: UK Requirement
>
>Importance: High
>Sensitivity: Personal
>
>
>Hope it works..............
>
>
>Thanks & Regards
>
>
>Devendra Negi
>
>RIG & FMG -Ahmedabad
>
>
>devendra.negi@icicibank.com
>
>Cell :+91 9825007355
>
>Tel. : 079 55523877
>
>Fax : 079 55523866
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: ARUN KANCHAN /RCIG/IBANK/BKC [mailto:
>arun.kanchan@icicibank.com]
>Sent: Monday, December 26, 2005 4:25 PM
>
>Subject: UK Requirement
>Importance: High
>Sensitivity: Personal
>
>
>
>Read all the responses given below, i also got tempted, so trying to C whether it really works
>
>
>u all can also try, all the best
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: IRENE FURTADO /CMA/IBANK/BKC
>
>Sent: Monday, December 26, 2005 3:18 PM
>Subject: FW: UK Requirement
>Importance:
>High
>Sensitivity: Personal
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: xxxxxxxx
>
>Sent: Monday, December 26, 2005 3:05 PM
>To: xxxxxxx
>Subject: FW: UK Requirement
>Importance: High
>
>Sensitivity: Personal
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: TEJAS GORASIA /CBG/IBANK/BKC
>
>Sent: Monday, December 26, 2005 2:50 PM
>To: xxxxxx
>
>Cc: xxxxxx
>Subject: FW: UK Requirement
>Importance: High
>Sensitivity:
>Personal
>
>
>Read all the responses below. Everybody is getting money for the same
>
>
>Tejas Gorasia
>
>
>Relationship Manager, Corporate Banking Group
>
>ICICI Bank Towers, West Wing, 8th Floor, North Tower
>
>BKC, Bandra, Bombay - 400051
>
>Dir: +9122 56966846
>
>HP: +91 9821025540
>
>Fax: +9122 56961179/1373
>
>
>
>From: Ashish Nene
>
>Sent: Monday, December 26, 2005 2:12 PM
>To:
>xxxxxxx
>
>Subject: FW: UK Requirement
>Sensitivity: Personal
>
>
>If this really works... well I don't want to miss the party
>J
>
>
>Ashish
>
>
>
>From: Sujeet Pramanik
>
>Sent: Monday, December 26, 2005 1:48 PM
>To:
>sujeet.pramanik@gmail.com
>Subject: FW: UK Requirement
>Sensitivity: Personal
>
>
>
>Hey guys- looks like this is not a junk from all the people who say they got the money- so why don't you get me some and earn some yourself too this new year.
>
>
>J
>
>Cheers
>
>
>Sujeet
>
>
>
>From: Sumit Virmani
>
>Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 9:12 AM
>To: xxxxxxx
>Subject: FW: UK Requirement
>
>Hi Everyone,
>
>
>It appears to be ridiculous. But when you see the list of people who claimed to have got the money, it's quite tempting
>J
>
>
>Regards
>
>Sumit
>
>
>From:
>Deepak Joshi [mailto:jdeepak@mahindrabt.com]
>
>Sent: Monday, December 19, 2005 9:09 PM
>To: xxxxxx
>Subject:
>RE: UK Requirement
>
>Guys It's working
>
>I have got $10000 .
>
>
>Deepak
>
>
>From:
>Vaishali Pandey [mailto:Vaishali.Pandey@peace.com]
>
>Sent: Monday, December 12, 2005 8:16 PM
>To:
>xxxxxx
>Subject:
>FW: UK Requirement
>Trying my Luck, U can try yours too
>J
>
>
>Cheers
>Vaishali
>
>
>From:
>Girish Gaurav , Gurgaon
>Sent: Friday, December 09, 2005 1:07 PM
>To: xxxxxx
>Subject: FW: UK Requirement
>
>mind says a big NO...still gettin carried away to see if I can ever win anything through luck.....
>
>
>Girish
>
>
>From:
>Neha Saluja, Noida
>Sent: Friday, December 09, 2005 9:28 AM
>To: xxxxxx
>Subject: FW: UK Requirement
>
>Hi all,
>
>
>trying luck.. just in case.. J
>
>
>
>From: Kumar, Apurv (Cognizant)
>
>Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 5:33 PM
>To: xxxxxx
>
>Subject: RE: UK Requirement
>
>I got 450 $ credited in my HDFC account today only. Yahooooooooooooooooooo!!! hurreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
>
>
>
>Regards,
>Apurv Gangwar
>
>
>Cognizant Technology Solutions
>
>Vnet: 55269
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>
>From: K, KesariVarman (Cognizant)
>Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 2:34 PM
>To:
>xxxxxx
>
>Subject: RE: UK Requirement
>
>Hai this is not joke i got 4672$ credited in my ICICI account last week
>
>
>Sent:
>Thursday, December 08, 2005 2:24 PM
>Subject: FW:
>Importance: High
>
>
>Frnds I got $2163 today only.
>So I am forwading to u frnds
>
>Don't miss this chance
>
>
>Regards,
>Sathish kumar.
>
>Vnet - 56639
>
>
>
>From:
>Kannan, Madhumathi (Cognizant)
>Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 2:18 PM
>To:
>xxxxxx
>Subject: FW:
>Importance:
>High
>
>
>I got $9386. Was shocked!!!
>
>Hey!!!!!! Am not joking................
>
>This really works!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
>
>
>From:
>Vigneshwaran, Murugaraja (IE10) [mailto:Vigneshwaran.Murugaraja@honeywell.com
>]
>Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 2:02 PM
>Subject: FW:
>Importance:
>High
>
>
>Just try ur luck.........
>
>
>with regards,
>
>Vigneshwaran.M
>
>
>From:
>Lakshmipreethi, Karthikeyan (IE10)
>Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2005 12:21 PM
>To:
>xxxxxxx
>
>Subject: FW:
>Importance: High
>
>
>I don't know whether this is true or not.. Just a try :-)
>
>
>From:
>Amit Midha [mailto:
>amit.midha@trident-hilton.com]
>Sent: 03/10/2005 6:24 PM
>To: 'Shivan Kalra (Asst Sales Manager-TOND)'
>
>Subject: RE: UK Requirement
>Dear Shivan
>
>This is really amazing I also got 5000 dollars via DD from HDFC, thot it was fake but it really worked..........the amount has been created to my account, what did you get.
>
>Thanks for forwarding this mail
>
>Amit Midha
>Front Office Manager
>
>The Trident Hilton
>Amber Fort Road
>Opposite Jalmahal
>Jaipur - 302002
>India
>Telephone: +91-141-2670101
>
>Facsimile:
>+91-141-2670303
>Mobile No:
>+91-9828555822
>E mail: amit.midha@trident-hilton.com
>
>From: Vikas Sharma
>
>Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2005 8:15 AM
>To: xxxxx
>Cc: '
>xxxxx
>Subject: FW: UK Requirement
>
>
>was tempted to fwd
>
>
>Hi Guys,
> I got $12,101 credited with this months salary, that is why I am sending this to you guys. I am almost going mad. Planning to quit TCS and start a new company. You guys can join hands. What to say yarr????
>
>
>
>Love,
>Ajay Joy
>Tata Consultancy Services Limited
>Mailto:
>ajay.joy@tcs.com
>Website:
>http://www.tcs.com
>
>----- Forwarded by Ajay Joy/CHN/TCS on 09/02/2005 05:09 PM -----
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Praharsh
>[mailto:praharsh.kp@patni.com]
>
>Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2005 2:35 PM
>To:
>xxxxxx
>
>Subject: RE: UK Requirement
>
>Hey guys !!!
>this is cool
>
>really really cooollllll
>I forwarded this mail to three chaps just half an hour back and i just forgot about it..
>then i saw my salary slip, checked my account in the net.
>i was wonder stuck to see $30000/- added to my account !! transferred from ms office thru western money transfer !!!
>
>its amazing guys !!!
>Go for it.
>Act fast. at least before this stupid bill gates gets bankrupt..........
>and in case this is true, there is not much time left.....
>so congratulations in advance....
>for becoming a millionair so easily...
>
>like me......
>
>
>To:
>xxxxxxxxx
>
>Subject: RE: UK Requirement
>Hey dudes and dudettes.......this is truly amazing........I got $12,545 a few weeks back......it indeed works.....and hope it works out for all of u.........for details contact me...........
>
>
>Thnks & Rgds,
>
>Dinesh.
>
>
>From:
>Ajay Shenoy-SPZ
>[mailto:ajay.shenoy@iflexsolutions.com]
>Sent:
>Tuesday, August 30, 2005 5:40 PM
>To: xxxxxxx>
>Subject: FW: UK Requirement
>Importance: High
>
>
>Hi,
>I got $9386. Was shocked!!! This is cool.
>Please forward.
>
>Regards
>Ajay
>
>
>From: Naveen Kumar Gupta
>Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2005 12:02 PM
>
>To: xxxxxxx
>Subject: RE: UK Requirement
>
>
>I have also gotten 34271$ cheque last week for the same knid of mail.You can also try your luck
>J
>
>
>Thanks,
>Naveen Gupta.
>Extn: 9256
>
>
>
>From:
>Ashish Gangwar
>Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2005 11:59 AM
>To: xxxxx>
>Subject: RE: UK Requirement
>
>I have gotten 17934$ cheque some time ago for the same kind of mail. You can also try your luck
>J
>
> _____
>
>
>From: Deenadayalan, Chandrakanth S
>Sent: Friday, July 22, 2005 11:07 AM
>To: xxxxx; >
>Subject: RE: UK Requirement
>
>Ya its true..
>They had already deposited in my bank a/c..
>
> _____
>
>
>From: Sankhala, Suresh Singh
>Sent: Monday, July 18, 2005 12:48 PM
>Subject: UK Requirement
>
>
>Dear Friends,
>Please do not take this for a junk letter. Bill Gates is sharing his fortune. If you ignore this you will repent later. Microsoft and AOL are now the largest Internet companies and in an effort to make sure that Internet Explorer remains the most widely used program, Microsoft and AOL are running an e-mail beta test.
>
>
>When you forward this e-mail to friends, Microsoft can and will track it (if you are a Microsoft Windows user) for a two week time period.
>
>For every person that you forward this e-mail to, Microsoft will pay you $245.00, for every person that you sent it to that forwards it on, Microsoft will pay you $243.00 and for every third person that receives it, you will be paid $241.00. Within two week! s, Microsoft will contact you for your address and then send you a cheque.
>
>
>Regards.
>Charles S. Bailey
>General Manager Field Operations
>1-800-842-2332 Ext. 1085 or 904-245-1085 or RNX 292-1085
>
>
>Charles_Bailey@csx.com
>
>*********************************************************
>
>
>*********************************************************
>
>
>>Group.Before opening any attachments please check them for viruses and defects."
>
>--
>Sunjoy Shekhar
>
Posts
14 comments:
Phew !! I finally reached the end of this post to get to the 'post comment' link (Subash, you made me work too hard on the scrolling...) and here I am writing my comments..
I wish I could 'lol' but I am office now and can't do that. But, I truly couldnt help laughing at the naivety of these people when it comes to making easy money. Haven't they heard of the timeless saying - 'There is no such thing as a free lunch' ?? Its the same people who would forward the Sri Venkateshwara prayer to 7 other people to be gifted with good luck and fear their heads will collectively break if they do not send it within the next 5 minutes as claimed in such mail. HA !! I only pity such folks for whom education did not do any good at all as their parents thought it would. They would do better herding cows (just a figure of speech. I do not have anything against either the cows or their herders, in fact I am of the strong opinion that the existing cow herders themselves would do better than to forward such mails if given the oppurtunity..they earn their money the hard way and know its value better)
But, I am curious Subash, in the long mail there were some 'respectable' people who claim they did indeed get the money..does that mean they too were in the prank or they just want to save face and made that false claim? Anyways, just think of the expression on Bill Gate's face when he comes to know of this scam !!
Lovely response Sri. For my answer to your question here goes. It could be both although I wonder why those "respectable" people should be doing this i.e playing pranks or saving their faces saying they did get the money. By the way Microsoft is aware of the scam and they have also responded to it. This is mentioned on one of the links I searched on the web and inserted in the post. Now to trim off those empty lines before another reader can complain.
you may want to check on privacy laws before putting up email contents and contact information on the web from a private email.
Hey anonymous,
You need to re-read this post all over again. What privacy and rules do these guys respect if they can be shooting off emails to all parts of the world staking all their personal information and the personal information of others in their e-mails. What do they care about privacy or the company's privacy? Just because there's a disclaimer notice tagged to their e-mails how does that guarantee that their asses (or their company's asses) will be covered while they can misuse the e-mail service (particularly if they are sending it from a company address)for their own greed. It was the lure of free-money for which these guys have transcended all borders of privacy rules and rules of company hardware and software usage, and that is what I am trying to draw the reader's attention to. Having disseminated all over the world I don't think this e-mail is private anymore. Thanks for the advice but I hope you weren't one of THEM.
well well well, there sure are greedy people in the world.....more foolish than greedy,rather..since when did bill gates open up the floodgates to his treasury... its like telling people that their manager wants to give you a hike in the salary.. lets say this whole crap was true, the lucky fool walks up to claim the "prize" only to discover that bill has sued him for using a cracked version of XP..
that should be interesting....
D
doesn't seem to me if you are making any great discoveries - greed and fear are the only two things that move humans-- look at what happened to the bangalore episode post that you had to swallow. how about getting sent back to India and moving from development to technical writing? or is it that bitterness that motivated this post?
coming to the cryptic privacy comment made earlier, what about the people who were sent the mail by any of those who forwarded the mail --whose names and email addresses you have exposed by posting the mail trail here? how do you know they acted on it? who gave you the right to expose their email IDs? how come this charity has not reached the person who sent the mail to you? shouldn't your anger be directed to the person who sent it to you (thinking you were NOT good enough to earn your own money) rather than people who sent it to their close friends for whatever reason? who are you to judge and decide punishment for what motivates other people?
do you think? can you?
Hey Anonymous,
First of all I don't think I need to be replying to someone who hides behind the "anonymous" identity mask. As the administrator of this blog I can simply trash your comments into the bin. Anyway let me be fair to you. First of all about my discoveries. I wonder what made you think I make them or make them up. I have better things to do in life than cook up a chain mail as this one. Man, imagine cooking up all those e-mail id's. You must be too bright to think I did that. I am sure I also did not discover the earthquake in Pakistan, or the rape of that BPO worker and other things that I have expressed my opinion on. I write about facts, give my opinion on the same and then let my readers voice their opinions which may be supportive or not and to both of which I am fully open to. Like I wrote earlier you need to re-read some of the comments from my readers on other posts.
I am also curious about something you wrote about my employment and the bitterness of which, I published this post. Being sent back? Wishful thinking. I am not stopping you. Dream on. I don't understand what is so bitter in MY decision to come back to India? What makes you think I cannot go back to the US or programming? I enjoy blogging and Tech.Writing more than I did with a decade of coding where I wanted to quit job a zillion times. I also don't know what I should feel so bitter about (like you concluded) being sent back than unemployment. Oh why didn't I start a Blog then and vent my frustration? Because a chain mail as this one did not circulate then? My God, why didn't I look for chain mails then....
You are right about punishment though. Who am I to judge? I deleted the post on the Bangalore episode because I had written something about what that rapist/murderer deserved. It was foolish of me to post an apology when NOT ONE PERSON had objected to the blog. In fact I had readers asking me why I had to apologize and what happened to that post. One reader even asked me to send her the post discreetly in an e-mail. Anyway thanks for the reminder. That apology needs to be deleted. Or better still I can recreate my original post and post it here. The apology would then be appropriate.
You are also right about the people who forwarded the mail without the intention of not making money. Why expose them? But then what makes you think they were forwarding the mail without that intention. And then about the friends/acquaintances of those whose e-mail id's were in the mailing list. You seem to be missing some vital points here. When the senders can expose the id's of their friends to anyone such as me what's the difference whether it is on the web or inside somebody's inbox in some corner of the world. Now you know. Next time these guys misuse e-mail for their own selfish gain they know what they are in for. Only my immediate sender had the nerve to write "This must be a Joke!!!!!!". None of the others did.
I am also surprised how come only you have a different opinion on this post unlike others (with their identies revealed of course) on this post. Why do I get a feeling you are bitter because you tried the same e-mail stunt and you didn't get any money only to discover that it was some silly joke and that I and my immediate sender did not fall prey to this chain mail.
You may not believe this but I WANT companies whose employees have misused their e-mail priviledges in that chain mail to read this blog and the responses posted here so that they are aware of what their employees are doing. At Compaq, Singapore where I contracted years ago, three Indian employees (they were my own friends) were warned and almost fired for forwarding harmless chain mails. The chain mails forwarded to hundreds of recepients clogged the mail servers and almost halted the company's email system. At my first contracting job in the USA two developers (girls) from India were given telephone bills to pay for misusing the company telephones by making calls to India. Imagine their shock at the end of the month when they thought they could have a joy ride with the phones. I have been a witness to several other misbehaviours and you can expect a blog on the same very soon. I am only worried at the poor image it will put my community into where there are many exemplary people.
By the way, next time, reveal yourself appropriately like the other readers have if you think you deserve a reply and remember that you can never make a point by fuelling your bitterness discusing your whimsical stuff about me. Others are reading your stuff here. Maybe that way it pays to remain anonymous.
Hey Anonymous,
Maybe I'll get a bit more fair with you. Although my first intention was to remove the email-id's of the recipients I didn't go ahead thinking that they also may have done the same i.e forwarded the chain mail to another mail list and so on. I may not be right here because if they didn't then exposing them would be incorrect. So giving them the benefit of doubt I'll go ahead and remove the mail-id's of all the recepients and others who just forwarded the mail with "maybe" the intent of informing.
Hey Bobbyi,
I appreciate your support. I just have a couple of things to say. 1. Let us not make the false move by blaming Bill Gates with this prank. The richest man surely knows how to get richer in more sensible and more honest ways. I am positive he wouldn't have resorted to this kind of thing. 2. Bill Gates is not only the world's richest man but he is also the world's biggest philanthropist. He and his wife Melinda donate millions in charity and for medical research every year. Doen't that remind you of words in "The Bible", "Give and you shall receive". Maybe that's how Bill is getting richer. 3. About the bitter response, - I am open to them all. I try and see whether they too have a point although they are personal like the ones I received here from "anonymous". The very identity "anonymous" and the comments says it all about them and their lives. 4. Finally, don't call me "Poor Guy" 'cos I am not and I will never be.
Hey Subhash,
It is a terrific work by you to expose the Internet's biggest hoax. I am also a recipient of this chain mail many times but this time I wanted to Google and check out. I 'replied to all' informing about the hoax and hoax sites - not wanting to appear as an arrogant fellow but to educate people on this hoax. No body replied me - they must have been hurt. I am not bothered but will continue to try to educate people. I also like the Jonathan Keats' story and forward to all to be more informed and not to spoil others' time and peace. http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.07/hoax.html
Thanks!
Kamesh
Thanks Kamesh, another URL to check out such hoaxes is truthorfiction.com that is also mentioned on the site that you have mentioned. There are tons of virus hoaxes too. For virus hoaxes check out McAfee's virus hoax page.
Thanks for this post- it just saved me a lot of time. Instead of replying to the people who sent me the same email (with all the same names- Gangwar, Naveen, TCS, Trident Hilton, etc), I just sent them a link to your post!
Hello friends,
I must also inform you that another big hoax (I have got this e-mail twice at work) is the Tommy Hilfiger hoax. The poor guy did not say any racist things or the other on "Oprah" about him feeling bad that his clothes are being worn by Asians and Hispanics. Oprah did not ask him to walk out of the show either. This is a very big hoax. Do not buy it and do not forward that mail to your friends either.
I have just read your blog, including the replies and i just have to say "welldone to you!!". I keep trying to warn my friends and associates about the numerous e-mail hoaxes i keep recieveing from them.
The only concearn i have, which i believe to be true is that someone is making money of these chain e-mails, i dont know if you your self have recieved these types of e-mails, but in the past there was a craze about an e-mail where someone's daughter/son had cancer and for every person the e-mail was sent to they recieved 1p to put towards the treatment, now if those e-mails where possibly true (which at the time i believed them to be) then is it possible someone is making a load of money from peoples greed? if so, they must be laughing in the face of every single person who forwarded the chain e-mails!!
I dont know if that is the case to be honest, but it's something to think about!!
Thanks for bringing light on the topic to people about this hoax scheme.
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