Fird's Domain

This is a hoax (which means, fake news). If friendster want to close down, ever, they will definitely announce about it (unless they are very unprofessional, that is). No sane and proper company will ask anybody to forward 20 copies of unsolicited messages/email randomly just like this. They will e-mail them individually!

So, stop forwarding this nonesense and please, relieve us of any stupid spam. Next time if you’re unsure if its fake or not, DO your research or better still, DO NOT forward!

(note: this has been cirulating, as far as I’ve remembered, dated back since 2004)

Here’s the sample of the message:

Message from Mr. Allen Smith (manager of friendster):
Friendster system is getting too crowded!! We need you to forward this to at least 20 people. I know this seems like a large number, but we need to find out who is really using their account. If you do not send this to at least 10 Friendster members, we will delete your account.

Stop the spam people! Don’t be spammers is the very first step. Do homework. Don’t be lazy.

I’ve had it.

More and more phone calls from various Banks, Insurance Companies and such.

Those who knows my number, please stop giving it away to these promoters without my consent. I’m getting annoyed with this calls. Some of them have been calling me for good three weeks!

I did asked them where did they obtain my number, and all I get are something like follows:

• I got from one of your friends, but I forgot who
• We have measures to get contacts
• Chairman of Telekom is our friend (probably bullshitting) [My favorite]
• Got lah
• Your boss give wan (I asked, and he repeatedly said he didn’t. Heck he didn’t even have that bank’s cards)

Come on promoters. I know its your job, but please be considerate. I said no, it means no. If I want/need it, I would’ve walked to the bank myself! Don’t have to call me repeatedly and make me sign up. I don’t care if I will have free stay in Genting for two after I swiped RM8,000 worth on my card!

I got this e-mail too, in my inbox, along with the one earlier:

Dear All,
If you receive a phone call on your mobile from any person, saying that, he or she is a company engineer, or telling that they’re checking your mobile line, and you have to press # 90 or #09 or any other number.

End this call immediately without pressing any numbers. There is a fraud company using a device that once you press #90 or #09 they can access your “SIM” card and make calls at your expense. Forward this message to as many friends as you can, to stop it.

All mobile users pay attention if you receive a phone call and your mobile phone displays (XALAN) on the screen don’t answer the call, END THE CALL IMMEDIATELY, if you answer the call, your phone will be infected by a virus..

This virus will erase all IMEI and IMSI information from both your phone and your SIM card, which will make your phone unable to connect with the telephone network. You will have to buy a new phone. This information has been confirmed by both Motorola and Nokia. There are over 3 Million mobile phones being infected by this virus in all around the world now. You can also check this news in the CNN web site. PLEASE FORWARD THIS PIECE OF I NFORMATION TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS HAVING A MOBILE

After doing some research, I’ve found out that this claim about the mysterious ‘XALAN’ user is completely a hoax and untrue. More reading can be done below:

- Info about this hoax at Hoax-Slayer.com
- Info from Trend-Micro

I really, really hope people could at least do some research before forwarding some untrue e-mails all over the world. This will never end any form of ‘virus’ or ’scam’ attacks, but will flood the mail server traffic, not to mention wasting some production time to read the so-called ‘important reminder’.

Just at the moment I logged into my terminal at the office, I received this e-mail:

Urgent Message from TELEKOM

To those who have a telekom home phone, please read. Here is the original text received from Telekom:

If you get a call from someone identifying himself as a phone technician performing a test, and this person asks you to touch nine(9), zero(0),hash sign (#) and then hang up… Please REFUSE TO DO SO!

By pushing 90#, you are giving the individual, who called you, access to your telephone line and allowing them to place a long distance call with the charges appearing on your telephone bill.

We were further informed that line scam has been originating from many of the local jails/prisons.

Please pass the word around.

This is not exactly a hoax, but I find it cute that people love to add spices to make it sounds more appealing to the reader. A quick check around Google reveals that this message have been circulating around since as early as 1997. Definitely NOT from Telekom Malaysia, and this “bug” usually only applies to offices or hotels that uses a PABX system (often they need to push 9 in order to dial an outside number).

Chances are it will not affect home landline and mobile phone users.

More info:
- #90 Phone Scam at Urban Legends Reference
- A user explaining this in a public forum

If you ever got an email that have similar content as the one below:

"Hey, Just got this from CNN, Osama Bin Laden has been captured! Go to the link below to view the pics and to download the video if you so wish: (Internet address) "Murderous coward he is." God bless America!"

... and it come with an attachment, supposedly an image of him being hung to death. Immediately delete this e-mail, and don't ever try to open the attachment, or worse, forward it to all your friends.

Why? This e-mail is a two-timer: A Hoax and a Malicious Virus!

Upon launching this, a trojan (virus) will be installed into your computer, the most common variant is Trj/Small.B.

This might be very old (dated as far as 2004 if I'm not mistaken). However, recently I've gotten a few of such e-mails alone, and as well as some warning e-mails telling others about this hoax. Do everyone a favor by not forwarding this e-mail to everyone you know, and better still, tell the sender about it!

More Reading:
- PandaSoftwares
- Urban Legend : Osama Captured/Hanged
- 'Osama Captured' E-mail is Malicious Trojan at Internetnews.com
- TruthOrFiction.com
- Microsoft Most Valuable Professional
- BreakTheChain.org

Other Related Info:
- The Top Twelve Threats No Computer User Should Ignore at PracticalPC.com