<butt-ugly-fish>Urban Legend Zeitgeist: Amy Bruce Email Hoax


Synopsis

Amy Bruce, a seven year old suffering from cancer, will receive 7 cents from the Make A Wish Foundation for each email forwarded.

See the hoax here.

Is it true? No. It is a hoax.
Why?
  • The Make A Wish Foundation disavows any connection with the email.
  • Forwarded email can't be tracked.
  • When?September 1999
    Comments

    Email forwarding hoaxes that play on our greed and gullibility are somewhat understandable. But what is the point of the email forwarding hoaxes that play on our compassion and altruism? They cause us to be so jaded that when a novel charity like the Hunger Site comes along that we assume it is a hoax or scam.

    Why shouldn't you forward these emails? They may take away support from legitimate charities because people may believe that they have already 'given at the office' by forwarding an email hoax. At worst they may cause charities to devote time and money answering queries and attempting to staunch hoaxes that could be better devoted to doing charitable work.

    So, why shouldn't you forward these email pleas?

    • Forwarding email is no substitute for supporting legitimate charities.
    • If you do, your friends who know these are hoaxes will think you are a credulous newbie.
    • Conserve precious network bandwidth.
    See also
    Zeitgeist to Order

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