HIV Warning Hoax

Description:

In an alarmist and concerned tone, which is typical of most email hoaxes, these email messages warn people against a supposedly dangerous prank being played on innocent people. It involves HIV-infected needles, theater seats, gas pump handles, and ketchup dispensers.

The email has three reported variants. One has circulated in Australia in 2001 while the other two apparently originated in the United States.

The first two variants talk of reported events wherein an HIV-infected needle is left in places most susceptible to human contact (one is placed in theater seats, the other in a gas pump handle). Strangely, both email messages cite 17 people being positively identified as infected with the deadly virus because of the prank.

The third variant talks about HIV-positive blood being slipped into ketchup dispensers in fast food restaurants.

These are clearly hoaxes. Recipients are advised to delete them and not forward them to other users. Trend Micro also advises users to consult more reliable sources of news and information.

Original Message:
Variant 1

Sad to see the world has come to this... HIV Warning

A few weeks ago in a movie theatre in Melbourne a person sat on something that was poking out of one of the seats. When she got up to see what it was she found a needle sticking out of the seat with a note attached saying... "You have just been infected by HIV". The Disease Control Centre in Melbourne reports many similar incidents have occurred in many other Australian cities recently. All tested needles ARE HIV Positive.

The Centre also reports that needles have been found in the cash dispensers in ATMs. We ask everyone to use extreme caution when faced with this kind of situation. All public chairs/seats should be inspected with vigilance and caution before use. 17 people have been tested positive in the Western suburbs alone in the last 2 months!!! A careful visual inspection should be enough.

In addition they ask that each of you pass this message along to all members of your family and your friends of the potential danger. We all have to be careful at public places! This is very important. Just think about saving a life of someone even you don't know by forwarding this message. Please, take a few seconds of your time to pass it along.

Variant 2

Please read and forward to anyone you know who drives.

My name is Captain Abraham Sands of the Jacksonville, Florida Police Department. I have been asked by state and local authorities to write this email in order to get the word out to car drivers of a very dangerous prank that is occurring in numerous states.

Some person or persons have been affixing hypodermic needles to the underside of gas pump handles. These needles appear to be infected with HIV positive blood. In the Jacksonville area alone there have been 17 cases of people being stuck by these needles over the past five months. We have verified reports of at least 12 others in various states around the country. It is believed that these may be copycat incidents due to someone reading about the crimes or seeing them reported on the television. At this point no one has been arrested and catching the perpetrator(s) has become our top priority.

Shockingly, of the 17 people who where stuck, eight have tested HIV positive and because of the nature of the disease, the others could test positive in a couple years. Evidently the consumers go to fill their car with gas, and when picking up the pump handle get stuck with the infected needle. IT IS IMPERATIVE TO CAREFULLY CHECK THE HANDLE of the gas pump each time you use one. LOOK AT EVERY SURFACE YOUR HAND MAY TOUCH, INCLUDING UNDER THE HANDLE. If you do find a needle affixed to one, immediately contact your local police department so they can collect the evidence.