FYI : MAIL HOAX
CELLULAR PHONE GRATIS DARI NOKIA /
ERICSSON
APAKAH ANDA TERTIPU ?
Fake chain letter hits Ericsson
[First published 04 April 2000]
A chain letter purporting that Ericsson is giving away Wap-telephones is
currently in circulation via e-mail. "The letter is a fake,"
says Peter Bodor, PR-manager at consumer segment product.
To disclaim the letter he has written a standard reply that Ericsson
employees can use. The following is an extract from the letter:
"If you forward it [the letter] to 20 friends, you will receive the
brand new Ericsson R320 WAP-phone"
The letter first appeared at the beginning of April. The chain letter
spreads mainly to e-mail users outside Ericsson. "As soon as
it started many people at Ericsson received the letter," says Peter
Bodor. "Most people understand that it is not serious. But in an
attempt to stop the spreading of the letter I have formulated a reply
that Ericsson employees can use."
The letter begins with a claim that Nokia is giving away telephones, and
Ericsson will respond by
giving away brand new Wap-phones. Then the recipient must send a letter
to a minimum of 20 people to receive the phone.
The letter is signed off Anna Swelund, Executive Promotion Manager for
Ericsson Marketing. "This person does not exist at Ericsson and we
are most certainly not giving away telephones, says Peter Bodor.
Chain letters by e-mail are a extremely effective way of spreading what
can often be false information. It is nearly always impossible to track
its origin. "We usually get hit by chain letters several times a
year. It is the same for Nokia," comments Peter Bodor.
"We have no specific strategy for combating chain letters, but the
standard reply I have written has
been sent to all information personnel at Ericsson. Footnote: The
standard reply to be used by Ericsson employees is:
"Ericsson is not giving away free phones. The chain mail you have
received is a fraud and there is no
person with the name of Anna Swelund working at Ericsson. At Ericsson, we
are constantly looking at new innovative ways to market ourselves, chain
e-mails are not one of them. We kindly ask you not to forward the chain
mail further.
Best regards,
Published 05 April 2000
Publisher: Lars A. St=E5lberg
Editor: Lotta Muth
