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48 Hours Hoax
Hoax Encyclopedia
From Mary Landesman,
Description: This hoax warns of a fictitious new virus allegedly arriving in 48 hours and warns that "it is a cyber-terrorism".
Example of hoax email:
A virus will be spreading in 48 hours from now!!!! PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL: This message arrived today, Microsoft just announced it.
The information said: If you receive an e-mail with the subject Help, don't open it, don't even move your mouse over it or clean it because with only that action a virus will be activated without the necessity to download any file, it is a cyber-terrorism!!
Wait 48 hours after you receive the virus in order to clean it, otherwise it will erase your hard disk and BIOS. This action doesn't have a cure because the computer startup system is affected and you are not to be able to get in the operating system.
Note: It can arrive with an unknown name or with one of your contacts' name. VERY URGENT, PASS THIS TO EVERY PERSON WHO HAS YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS!!!!
Federal Bill 602P: 5-cent email tax
Hoax Encyclopedia
From Mary Landesman,
Description: This email hoax warns of Federal Bill 602P which the author claims will impose a 5-cent email tax on every delivered email.
The Facts: There is no Federal Bill 602P nor is their a Congressional representative named Tony Schnell. Both the facts and the email are a fake. The email has been in circulation since at least 1999. Unlike most hoaxes, it is detailed and well-written, perhaps making it seem more believable and thus explaining its successful run as a hoax.
Example of the hoax email:
Subject: 5 cent e-mail
Guess the warnings were true. Federal Bill 602P 5-cents per E-mail sent. It figures! No more free E-mail! We knew this was coming!!
Bill 602P will permit the Federal Government to charge a 5-cent charge on every delivered E-mail. Please read the following carefully if you intend to stay online and continue using E-mail.
The last few months have revealed an alarming trend in the Government of the United States attempting to quietly push through legislation that will affect our use of the Internet. Under proposed legislation, the US Postal Service will be attempting to bill E-mail users "alternative postage fees."
Bill 602P will permit the Federal Government to charge a 5-cent surcharge on every E-mail delivered, by billing Internet Service Providers at source. The consumer would then be billed in turn by the ISP.
Washington DC lawyer Richard Stepp is working without pay to prevent this legislation from becoming law. The US Postal Service is claiming lost revenue, due to the proliferation of E-mail, is costing nearly $230,000,000 in revenue per year. You may have noticed their recent ad campaign: "There is nothing like a letter." Since the average person received about 10 pieces of E-mail per day in 1998, the cost of the typical individual would be an additional 50 cents a day - or over $180 per year - above and beyond their regular Internet costs.
Note that this would be money paid directly to the US Postal Service for a service they do not even provide. The whole point of the Internet is democracy and noninterference. You are already paying an exorbitant price for snail mail because of bureaucratic efficiency. It currently takes up to 6 days for a letter to be delivered from coast to coast.
If the US Postal Service is allowed to tinker with E-mail, it will mark the end of the "free" Internet in the United States.
Congressional representative, Tony Schnell (R) has even suggested a "$20-$40 per month surcharge on all Internet service" above and beyond the governments proposed E-mail charges.
Note that most of the major newspapers have ignored the story the only exception being the Washingtonian which called the idea of E-mail surcharge "a useful concept who's time has come" (March 6th, 1999 Editorial). Do not sit by and watch your freedom erode away!
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