2006-10-10 19:07:24 · 8 answers · asked by Demus 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
It's a trick to get you to spam things along. Forwarding doesn't do anything but spread the original message. There's no practical purpose to tracking a message downstream, whether it's a plea for "help", a petition or a chain message.
If it were genuine, it would urge you to a course of action, with an address, a phone number, a website or instructions. Think about it, if everyone just forwards the message, how does the do-gooder know? And how does little Timmy's life get saved? And what kind of cruel game would the do-gooder be playing, holding Timmy's recovery hostage to your forward button.
Check out the hoax and urban websites and learn to spot the signs of a hoax message. (The first clue is, "Send this on to everyone you know.")
2006-10-10 19:18:18 · answer #1 · answered by skepsis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Quite a lot are bogus---the idea of "there is some sort of e-mail tracking device, and this will raise money" is a popular fiction.
If you love killing stories and rumors, check out www.snopes.com
they have a great search engine---and it's a very reliable site for checking on the truth or falsity of a lot of "urban rumors" on a LOT of topics
2006-10-10 19:16:55 · answer #2 · answered by samiracat 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think those things work! I'm still waiting for my money from Bill Gates for forwarding a Microsoft email to 25 people! I'm also waiting on my Applebee's, and Victoria's Secret gift cards for forwarding emails to 5 or more people! I smell a scam!!!
2006-10-10 19:10:19 · answer #3 · answered by MiLuv 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, they're just chain letters. If you want money to go to a cause, donate to the cause directly.
2006-10-10 19:09:55 · answer #4 · answered by i luv teh fishes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Based on Fear and potential Fraud!
Delete or report as Spam!!
2006-10-10 19:08:40 · answer #5 · answered by J. Charles 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
they most likely are fraudulent. turn them in to the postal inspectors at any post office.
2006-10-10 19:14:59 · answer #6 · answered by arkie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/internet/
Go to this page and search for your answer...
2006-10-10 19:17:22 · answer #7 · answered by Angela M 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
are you seriously this retarded?
2006-10-10 19:09:35 · answer #8 · answered by camden 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋