Are these urban legends true: Microsoft email beta test, Swiffer WetJet dangerous to your pets, Target's practices: Internet ScamBusters™ #186
Since it's a holiday week here in the US and so many people are on vacation, we thought we'd do a short -- and lighter -- issue today. We'll tell you whether three very popular urban legend emails are true or just hoaxes:
- The Bill Gates / Microsoft email beta test
- Is the Swiffer WetJet dangerous to your pets?
- Which of these practices are true about Target?
Let's get started...
The Bill Gates / Microsoft email beta test
We believe the Bill Gates / Microsoft email beta test might deserve an award for the most persistent urban legend. 😉
We've been writing about this one for many, many years. You can see one of the earlier versions of the Microsoft email beta test here.
A recent variant begins like this:
--- Begin Urban Legend ---
THIS TOOK TWO PAGES OF THE TUESDAY USA TODAY - IT IS FOR REAL
Subject: PLEEEEEEASE READ!!!! it was on GOOD MORNING AMERICA
--- End Urban Legend ---
Is there really a Microsoft email beta test where you can receive a lot of cash for forwarding messages?
Editors Note: No, this is a hoax. But apparently a very convincing one.
In fact, what inspired us to write about the Microsoft email beta test again is that a very close friend of ours (who has been in the high tech industry for 20 years!) sent us an email asking if the Microsoft email beta test was true.
We figured if she wondered if this was a hoax, then many subscribers who are even less tech savvy could easily be duped.
So just to be crystal clear: Bill Gates is NOT giving away money as part of a Microsoft email beta test.
Is the Swiffer WetJet dangerous to your pets?
Here's a sample email that's going around about the Swiffer WetJet and its supposed dangers:
--- Begin Urban Legend ---
I recently had a neighbor who had to have their 5-year old German Shepherd dog put down due to liver failure.
The dog was completely healthy until a few weeks ago, so they had a necropsy done to see what the cause was.
The liver levels were unbelievable, as if the dog had ingested poison of some kind. The dog is kept inside, and when he's outside, someone's with him, so the idea of him getting into something unknown was hard to believe.
My neighbor started going through all the items in the house. When he got to the Swiffer WetJet, he noticed, in very tiny print, a warning which stated "may be harmful to small children and animals."
He called the company to ask what the contents of the cleaning agent are and was astounded to find out that antifreeze is one of the ingredients. (He actually was told it's a compound which is one molecule away from anti-freeze.)
Therefore, just by the dog walking on the floor cleaned with the solution, then licking its own paws, and the dog eating from its dishes which were kept on the kitchen floor cleaned with this product, it ingested enough of the solution to destroy its liver.
Soon after his dog's death, his housekeepers' two cats also died of liver failure. They both used the Swiffer WetJet for quick cleanups on their floors.
Necropsies weren't done on the cats, so they couldn't file a lawsuit, but he asked that we spread the word to as many people as possible so they don't lose their animals.
--- End Urban Legend ---
Is this true?
Editors Note: No, it is false. Variations of this email have been going around for at least three years. Every version we've seen is a hoax.
Which of these practices are true about Target?
There are four very popular emails going around right now about the Target Corporation. Here they are:
- The Target Corporation does not contribute to the U.S. Marines 'Toys for Tots' program.
- The Target Corporation does not allow reservists called to active duty to continue their health benefits.
- The Target Corporation does not contribute to veterans' causes.
- The Target Corporation is French-owned.
True or false?
Editors Note: All of these statements are false -- but they are definitely getting a lot of distribution. And there are other false statements going around about Target as well.
Time to wrap up for today -- have a great week!