Nokia is giving away free phones for forwarding email. See the hoax here.

Ericsson is countering Nokia's offer and giving away phones for forwarding email too. See the hoax here.

• The Urban Legend Zeitgeist has conclusive evidence that both hoaxes were penned by the Muppet's Swedish Chef.
• Large international companies can afford to hire copy editors.
• Forwarded email can't be tracked.
• There is no free lunch.

Urban Legend Zeitgeist despairs of ever seeing the end of these email hoaxes. P.T. Barnum would not be surprised. We give up.

These email forwarding hoaxes have been multiplying at a furious rate. New variations are popping up every week. Much like the "Good Times" virus hoaxes that preceded them, these email forwarding hoaxes are a way of tweaking the Internet novice. Consider them the Internet equivalent of the 'Kick me' sign.

Unfortunately, given the staying power of hoaxes like "Good Times" and legends like Craig Shergold, we'll be seeing these email forwarding stories for some time to come.

Why shouldn't you forward these emails?

• If you do, your friends who know these are hoaxes will think you are a credulous newbie.
• Conserve precious network bandwidth.

• Debunking:
  • "Chain letter is a fraud" from Ericsson.

• General resources on Internet hoaxes:
  • "Computer Virus Myths Home Page"
  • "CIAC Internet Hoaxes" from the US Department of Energy's Computer Incident Advisory Capability

Got a new legend?
Got a question?
Send it to ulz@tafkac.org