# The Kingerman Virus

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kingerman-virus/53464>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [February 7, 2001, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kingerman-virus/53464 "2001-02-07T05:43:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ageless6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@ageless6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ageless6)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2001, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kingerman-virus/53464/1 "2001-02-07T05:43:49Z")

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Got an email from a friend today that was a warning about the Kingerman virus and how dangerous it was. To PEOPLE, not machines. Supposedly 7 out of 23 people have died after opening a big blue envelope they found in their mail boxes with “A GIFT FOR YOU FROM THE KINGERMAN FOUNDATION” printed on it. In the envelope is a sponge in sealed plastic. The sponge is doped with a virus that is new to virology. Big warning: DO NOT OPEN. CALL THE POLICE, blah,blah.  
I searched the CDC and other virology and medical sites and found…nothing.  
My friend had already sent this"notice" to 8 ot 10 other people. I don’t know where he got it.

My question is: What is the original sender after? Is he compiling a list of people under the guise of a medical virus emergency so he can send out a computer virus? What’s his possible motive?  
Over?  
(Mods; I’m not entirely sure this is the right forum. If it isn’t, send it where you will.)

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**Author:** ![dragonlady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f8ce5/32.png) [@dragonlady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragonlady)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2001, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kingerman-virus/53464/2 "2001-02-07T05:53:42Z")

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An already debunked urban legand.  
Check Snopes.

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**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2001, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kingerman-virus/53464/3 "2001-02-07T05:59:02Z")

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It’s a hoax.

My brain isn’t working right today (got a bad cold). But if you go to [http://www.snopes.com](http://www.snopes.com), and either go to the “Toxins du jour” section, or do a database search (type in Klingerman & it’ll pop right up), you’ll find the story behind it.

Oh, and while you’re there, bookmark that site. We here at the SDMB _looooooove_ Snopes. There’s lots of posters here that participate in the message board there, too.

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**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2001, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kingerman-virus/53464/4 "2001-02-07T06:00:12Z")

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**dragonlady’s** post wasn’t there when I started mine! I swear! :eek:

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**Author:** ![ageless6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@ageless6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ageless6)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2001, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-kingerman-virus/53464/5 "2001-02-07T06:24:59Z")

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Thanks all. I know about Snopes; have it marked, but for some reason it’s so agonizingly slow on my webtv to get there that I usually give up in disgust. I’ll try again.