The following are examples of the 'HIV-tainted needles' urban legends.

Click here to find out why these are urban legends.

Canadian version:

Subject: Warning - from Regina City Police

Please read this message and pass it on. This is so sick, that someone would think of doing this, but please be aware of it and be careful For your information, a couple of weeks ago, in a movie theater, a person sat on something sharp in one of the seats. When she stood up to see what it was, a needle was found poking through the seat with an attached note saying,"You have been infected with HIV".

The Centers for Disease Control reports similar events have taken place in several other cities recently. All of the needles tested HAVE been positive for HIV. The CDC also reports that needles have been found in the coin return areas of pay phones and soda machines.

Everyone is asked to use extreme caution when confronted with these types of situations. All public chairs should be thoroughly but safely inspected prior to any use. A thorough visual inspection is considered the bare minimum. Furthermore, they ask that everyone notify their family members and friends of the potential dangers, as well. Thank you. The previous information was sent from the Regina City Police Department to all of the local governments in the Saskatchewan area and was interdepartmentally dispersed. We were all asked to pass this to as many people as possible.

PASS THIS ON!!!

Florida/US version:

Caution - important information:

For your information, a couple of weeks ago, in a Ft. Myers, Florida movie theater, a person sat on something sharp in one of the seats. When she stood up to see what it was, a needle was found poking through the seat with an attached note saying, "You have been infected with HIV".

The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta reports similar events have taken place in several other cities recently. All of the needles tested HAVE been positive for HIV. The CDC also reports that needles have been found in the coin return areas of pay phones and soda machines.

Everyone is asked to use extreme caution when confronted with these types of situations. All public chairs should be thoroughly but safely inspected prior to any use. A thorough visual inspection is considered the bare minimum. Furthermore, they ask that everyone notify their family members and friends of the potential dangers, as well. Thank you.

The previous information was sent from the Ft. Myers, Florida Police Department to all of the local governments in the Washington area and was interdepartmentally dispersed. We were all asked to pass this to as many people as possible.

N***** M. P******** S.A.V.E.S.
Coordinator, The Women's Center at Virginia Tech
(***)***-**** [Name and telephone number deleted - Urban Legend Zeitguy]

PASS THIS ON AND DO TELL AS MANY AS POSSIBLE!!!!!!!

Needles in movie theater story from 1998:

INCIDENT AT THE MOVIE THEATRE

Please check your chairs when going to the movie theatres. An incident occured when a friend's co-worker went to sit in a chair and something was poking her. She then got up and found that it was a needle with a little note at the end. It said "Welcome to the real world, you're HIV Positive."

Doctors tested the needle and it was HIV+. We don't know which theatre this happened at, but it happened here in Hawaii. Be cautious when going to the movies.

Needles in coin return slots story from 1998:

VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION!!!

ALERT! ALERT! FYI.. Don't use that public telephone (or be careful)

There is something new happening that everyone should be aware of. Drug users are now taking their used needles and putting them into the coin return slots in public telephones.

People are putting their fingers in to recover coins or just to check if anyone left change. They are getting stuck by these needles infected with hepatitis, HIV, and other diseases. This message is posted to make everyone aware of this danger. Be aware! The change isn't worth it!

P.S. - This information came straight from phone company workers, through the EMT instructor. This did NOT come from a hearsay urban legend source.

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