Beware! Its a Cyber World - - Summary:
Message warns that users will have to pay for MSN and email accounts unless they send the warning to at least 18 contacts.
This is absolutely false and these hoax messages are just more variants in a long line of similar hoaxes that warn that MSN is about to start charging for its free services. They also claim that the MSN user's account will be closed unless he or she forwards the message on to 18 or more people.
The mail may be somewhat like the one presented here:
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Hey, people.
Sorry to break the news, but looks like all of those warnings were real!!!!! :o !!! The use of MSN and e-mail will cost money from Summer 2009 onwards. If you Send this message to 18 different people from your list, your little MSN Icon will turn blue and that will make it free for you. If you don't believe Me, go on to (www.msn.com) and see it yourself. Don't forward this message, But copy and paste it so that people will actually read it!!!!!!
It is Andy and John - the directors of MSN - sorry for the interruption, but MSN is really closing down. This is because too many inconsiderate people Are taking up all the names (e.g.. Making up lots of different accounts for Just one person), and we are only left with 578 names.
If you would like to close your account, DO NOT SEND THIS MESSAGE ON. But, If you would like to keep your account, then SEND THIS MESSAGE TO EVERYONE ON YOUR CONTACT LIST. This is no joke, as we Will be shutting down the Servers. Send it on, thanks.
WHOEVER DOES NOT SEND THIS MESSEAGE, YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE CLOSED AND IT WILL COST YOU 100.00 (pending) A MONTH TO USE. SEND THIS TO EVERYONE ON YOUR CONTACT LIST. NOW YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO. PLEASE DO NOT FORWARD THIS OR REPLAY. COPY THE WHOLE E-MAIL. RETURN TO YOUR INBOX AND CLICK ON NEW. THEN PASTE 'THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION'.
Hey everyone, I don't normally send this sort of stuff out, but I had a Look on the Internet and its actually true that by the 30th November, we WILL have to pay for the use of our MSN and e-mail account(s), unless we Send this message to at least 18 contacts on our contact list.
It's no joke, but if you don't believe me, then you can see for yourself -Go to the site (http://news.BBC.co.UK/1/hi/business/1189119.stm) - and See For yourself.
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Beware! Its a Cyber World - - Explanation:
From time to time, pranksters come up with an updated and equally untrue version of the message that includes a new deadline set for a date in the near future. Another version began circulating back in 2005 and is still hitting inboxes several years on. Even earlier versions have specifically targeted Hotmail users.
This is absolutely false and these hoax messages are just more variants in a long line of similar hoaxes that warn that MSN is about to start charging for its free services. They also claim that the MSN user's account will be closed unless he or she forwards the message on to 18 or more people.
The mail may be somewhat like the one presented here:
==========================================
Hey, people.
Sorry to break the news, but looks like all of those warnings were real!!!!! :o !!! The use of MSN and e-mail will cost money from Summer 2009 onwards. If you Send this message to 18 different people from your list, your little MSN Icon will turn blue and that will make it free for you. If you don't believe Me, go on to (www.msn.com) and see it yourself. Don't forward this message, But copy and paste it so that people will actually read it!!!!!!
It is Andy and John - the directors of MSN - sorry for the interruption, but MSN is really closing down. This is because too many inconsiderate people Are taking up all the names (e.g.. Making up lots of different accounts for Just one person), and we are only left with 578 names.
If you would like to close your account, DO NOT SEND THIS MESSAGE ON. But, If you would like to keep your account, then SEND THIS MESSAGE TO EVERYONE ON YOUR CONTACT LIST. This is no joke, as we Will be shutting down the Servers. Send it on, thanks.
WHOEVER DOES NOT SEND THIS MESSEAGE, YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE CLOSED AND IT WILL COST YOU 100.00 (pending) A MONTH TO USE. SEND THIS TO EVERYONE ON YOUR CONTACT LIST. NOW YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO. PLEASE DO NOT FORWARD THIS OR REPLAY. COPY THE WHOLE E-MAIL. RETURN TO YOUR INBOX AND CLICK ON NEW. THEN PASTE 'THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION'.
Hey everyone, I don't normally send this sort of stuff out, but I had a Look on the Internet and its actually true that by the 30th November, we WILL have to pay for the use of our MSN and e-mail account(s), unless we Send this message to at least 18 contacts on our contact list.
It's no joke, but if you don't believe me, then you can see for yourself -Go to the site (http://news.BBC.co.UK/1/hi/business/1189119.stm) - and See For yourself.
========================================
Beware! Its a Cyber World - - Explanation:
From time to time, pranksters come up with an updated and equally untrue version of the message that includes a new deadline set for a date in the near future. Another version began circulating back in 2005 and is still hitting inboxes several years on. Even earlier versions have specifically targeted Hotmail users.
All versions are equally nonsensical and have no basis in fact. If MSN was considering implementing a charge for its standard MSN Messenger and email services, it would certainly not base its decision on how many times a particular message was sent to others. Such claims are simply ridiculous.
And, even in the vastly improbable event that MSN somehow only had 578 names available, it certainly would not attempt to remedy the problem by asking customers to forward an email. Online services such as MSN have sophisticated and precise methods of checking the activity levels of accounts that do not require the account holder to reply to or forward a specific message. While online service providers may sometimes choose to delete accounts that have not been active for long periods, they do not force clients to send on ridiculous email messages if they wish to keep their account open. Generally, just logging on to one's online account from time to time will be enough to keep it active.
The "warnings" advise recipients to go to www.msn.com and "see for yourself". However, there is nothing on the MSN site that confirms the story in any way.
Some versions of the hoax also include a link to an old BBC news article that, at first glance, seems to give credence to the claims in the message. However, a closer examination of the article quickly reveals that it, in fact, does not confirm the claims in the hoax message in any way. Firstly, the BBC article was published back in 2001, and therefore has no relevance to current events whatsoever. Secondly, the article discusses Microsoft's intention to start charging an optional fee for enhanced MSN and Hotmail services. And, in fact, Microsoft did indeed begin offering MSN customers access to extra services for a fee a number of years ago. However, as very clearly stated in the BBC article, Microsoft had no intention of charging customers for core MSN or Hotmail services and it has never done so.
Unfortunately, it seems that many recipients of the hoax email take only a brief glance at the linked BBC article's headline and then forward on the nonsensical email in the mistaken belief that they have therefore verified its claims. If they were to take a few moments to actually read the BBC article and take note of its February 2001 publication date, they would quickly realize that it does not confirm the absurd claims in the hoax email in the slightest.
Like their many predecessors, these messages are pure nonsense. Forwarding them will do no more than clutter inboxes with more pointless junk.
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