Wow, is this for real? Virus Alert.

I recieved this in my email box today, does anyone know if this if real?


This is an alert about a virus in the original sense
of the word… one that affects your body, not your
hard drive.

There have been 23 confirmed cases of people attacked
by the Klingerman Virus, a virus that arrives in your
real mail box, not your e-mail in- box.

Someone has been mailing large blue envelopes,
seemingly at random, to people inside the US.

On the front of the envelope in bold black letters is
printed, “A gift for you from the Klingerman
Foundation.” When the envelopes are opened, there is a
small sponge sealed in plastic.

This sponge carries what has come to be known as the
Klingerman Virus, as public health officials state
this is a strain of virus they have not previously
encountered. When asked for comment, Florida police
Sergeant Stetson said, "We are working with
the CDC and the USPS, but have so far been unable to
track down the origins of these letters.

The return addresses have all been different, and we
are certain a remailing service is being used, making
our jobs that much more difficult."

Those who have come in contact with the Klingerman
Virus have been hospitalized with severe dysentery. So
far seven of the twenty- three victims have died. There
is no legitimate Klingerman Foundation mailing
unsolicited gifts.

If you receive an oversized blue envelope in the mail
marked “A Gift from the Klingerman foundation”. DO
NOT open it. Place it in a strong plastic bag or
container and call the
police immediately. The “gift” is one you definitely
do not want to open.

PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW OR CARE ABOUT

No, it is not true.
The very fact that it came in an email urging you to pass it on is more than proof enough. No virus, real or imagined has ever been reported via the use of email spam.

YES IT IS TRUE WHEN CONGRESS SIGNED THE ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE IN 1973.b THEY MADE IT ILLEGAL TO RUN A BUSINESS BASED ON CHEESE
FORWORD THIS 2 EVERYONE U KNOW@!!! !!!

Actually, I know I jumped the gun on this one. Got the email, did a quick search of general questions and came up with zilch, and then posted.

Came back to my workstation 10 minutes ago, and did a google search and found a CDC site debunking the spam. Seems obvious in retrospect, but hey…

Thanks all…

Oh, and CH, I will forward that, I had NO IDEA! I’m going to start a letter writing campaign to congress immediately!

Inbox rule number 1: Nothing mass forwarded is true.

Inbox rule number 2: If you have any doubts, refer to Rule number 1.

Inbox rule number 3: http://www.snopes.com/ is our friend.

I really think it should be mandatory for every new internet user to visit http://www.snopes.com before sending or receiving any email.

Then, every internet user in he world should have to register so that they required to visit the site at least once a month to stay on top of these rumors. It’s like renewing your license. There should be a snopes license.

Occasionally, something sent out by e-mail will actually be true. The simple way to recognize these is that they will include a link to a page on a reputable and relevant website which says the same thing that’s in the e-mail. If there really were such a virus, and a concerned Netizen wanted to spread the word, he or she would have included a link to the CDC, or NIH, or WHO. Similarly, a legitimate virus warning will include a link to Symantec, Norton, or Microsoft, an appeal for donations to a certain group (Red Cross, American Cancer Society, etc.), will include a link to the relevant group, a missing child plea will include a link to the appropriate Missing Persons Bureau, etc.

Every single email I get from my mother says, “I got his email from my friend Gullible and it said that (pick one: sick child, missing child, virus warning, email tax, celebrity BS, ancient urban legend). What’s that site that I can check to see if it’s true?”
SNOPES, Mom, Snopes, for crying out loud. Bookmark it!
Bookmark, it, read it, know it. Before I come over and revoke your email privileges. Oblong said I could.

Here’s some food for thought.