Protect Yourself and Report the Latest Frauds, Scams, Spams, Fakes, Identify Theft Hacks and Hoaxes
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It used to be true that you cannot get a virus from reading email. Now they can embed viruses into images and especially with links that take you back to a website. But it is still rare. If you have an up[ to date anti-virus program running, you can generally safely read your email. You can definitely get a virus from downloading an executable file, such as one with a .exe or .dll at the end of its title. So DON'T download any file with any executable nature, unless you know who it is from. This particular virus warning, Pen Pal Greeting or Join the Crew, is a hoax. However, if you do not keep your browser (Netscape, Firefox or Internet Explorer) up to date, a virus can enter your system.
Here is the email - Remember it is a FAKE warning:
If you receive an email titled "Join the Crew", DO NOT OPEN IT! IT WILL ERASE YOUR HARD DRIVE. Delete without opening.
If you receive an email titled "Pen pal Greetings!," DELETE WITHOUT OPENING. This virus erases the hard drive, replicates itself, and sends itself to every address it can find on your system, to include everyone in your address book and everyone that you have received mail from that might still be in your IN box or TRASH!
If you receive and email titled "Returned or Unable to Deliver,"
DELETE WITHOUT OPENING. This virus attaches itself to the software that controls your components, rendering them useless. The person spreading this virus has chosen this title because we often receive returned mail. Don't be fooled! Even if it IS returned mail, the information in the message is not that useful anyway.
Forward this information to the people on your address list. Remember, if your friend gets the virus, he could inadvertently send it to YOU if you are in their address book, in box, out box, or trash!
Good Luck,
or a shorter version:
WARNING!!! If you receive an e-mail titled "JOIN THE CREW" DO NOT open it!
It will erase EVERYTHING on your hard drive! Send this letter out to as many people you can....this is a new virus and not many people know about it! This message was received this morning from IBM, and the Army National Guard. Please share it with anyone that might access the Internet.
or this version:
I RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING FROM MY BROTHER AND THE LOUISIANA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION CONCERNING NEW VIRUSES:
If you receive an email titled "Join the Crew", DO NOT OPEN IT! IT WILL ERASE YOUR HARD DRIVE. Delete without opening.
If you receive an email titled "Pen pal Greetings!," DELETE WITHOUT OPENING. This virus erases the hard drive, replicates itself, and sends itself to every address it can find on your system, to include everyone in your address book and everyone that you have received mail from that might still be in your IN box or TRASH!
If you receive and email titled "Returned or Unable to Deliver," DELETE WITHOUT OPENING. This virus attaches itself to the software that controls you components, rendering them useless. The person spreading this virus has chosen this title because we often receive returned mail. Don't be fooled! Even if it IS returned mail, the information in the message is not that useful anyway.
Forward this to the people on you address list. Remember, if you friend gets the virus, it could send itself to YOU if you are in their address book, in box, out box, or trash!
And if you want to see the humorous side of hoax emails, read the spoof of the bubble-boy scams.