Sorry I didn't forward the message. Here it is. bt >>>> > Subject: PLEASE read this....VERY IMPORTANT!! > >>> > > >>> > This story illustrates just how dangerous it can be. > >>> > Please read it. > >>> > (I am placing these instructions before the story so that you will > >>> > know how to forward your email in the future.) Before you forward > >>> > this message or any other message to someone, please do the > >>> > following: (NOT HARD TO DO) > >>> > > >>> > 1. REMOVE all email addresses that were forwarded or sent to you > >>> > on the message. Use the delete key, or the editing functions on your > >>> > email program after you hit the Forward key. > >>> > > >>> > 2. DO NOT use the TO field to send the mail on. USE the BCC > >>> > field. This means "Blind Carbon Copy." It will list only the name of > >>> > each individual receiver on the email. NOBODY ELSE'S email address > >>> > will be shown. > >>> > > >>> > TO USE BCC: Simply click BCC instead of TO. It works just the same. > >>> > If you add names from your address book, just add them to the BCC > >>> > field instead of the TO field. > >>> > > >>> > As an added bonus of using this feature, your email message won't > >>> > have all those addresses at the beginning. No one will have to scroll > >>> > through the addresses to get to the message that you have sent. > >>> > > >>> > Please take the time to read this. It could prove to be very > >>> > important. > >>> > The following individual asked not to be identified, but she asked > >>> > that this letter be forwarded to anyone who does not BCC (blind carbon > >>> > copy) online ... and to spread the word. Please read this; it is not > >>> > a joke. > >>> > > >>> > Late one evening, while online, I received an IM (Internet message) > >>> > from a gentleman who said he knew me through mutual pals online. We > >>> > chatted for an hour or so before deciding to keep in touch, as we had > >>> > so many things in common. I eventually, after a week or so of knowing > >>> > him, trusted him with my name (first name) and phone number; after > >>> > all, he knew my friends and I felt he must have been OK if they all > >>> > liked and knew him. He knew a lot about them, he knew a lot about me, > >>> > and he knew a lot about a lot! He seemed like such a nice person, a > >>> > pleasant person, and someone whom I felt very comfortable sharing my > >>> > time online (and on the phone) with. > >>> > > >>> > One night, a friend from our group of friends invited me to a chat > >>> > room where several of the friends had gathered and were chatting when > >>> > this gentleman popped into the chat room. He popped in and then left > >>> > quickly. Then, for the first time since I met and started chatting > >>> > with him, I mentioned him to one of the friends who was in the chat > >>> > room one whom this gentleman claimed association with. She was in > >>> > total awe, she did not know who he was! Things were beginning to look > >>> > really suspicious. The more she and I chatted, the more suspicious it > >>> > became. It also became apparent that this guy knew none of us. > >>> > Suddenly, he disappeared off-line for a few days...then one day he > >>> > pops back in and sends me an IM saying that we need to talk. He called > >>> > me at my home and I was very upset, so I asked him how he really > >>> > found me and why he had felt the need to lie in the first place. > >>> > > >>> > This is where you all need to pay attention: He told me that he > >>> > spotted my screen name on a forward that one of my friends sent to > >>> > someone else. My screen name is what attracted him. He then used the > >>> > screen name of others on the list of forwards to acquaint himself with > >>> > me and various others from our clique of friends. He also used the > >>> > member directory (at AOL) to look up info about others on the list of > >>> > forwards, so not to look suspicious. > >>> > > >>> > He said he felt it was the only way he would have the chance to get to > >>> > know me, and the main attraction to me was "My Screen name" because he > >>> > thought it was "sexy!" I was upset, needless to say, as I had trusted > >>> > this man with my personal info ... such as phone number and name. He > >>> > also knew where I lived (thanks to the phone bill) and I was now his > >>> > prey! > >>> > > >>> > A few days after having last talked to this person and thinking that > >>> > was the last of him, I received a phone call at 4:00 a.m., it has this > >>> > man telling me he was in town to see a friend who lived 20 minutes my > >>> > house, and wanted to know if I would like to meet him for coffee or > >>> > breakfast. > >>> > > >>> > When I told him it was not such a good idea, he became irate and hung > >>> > up on me. I immediately called him back (caller ID) and explained to > >>> > him that my husband was back home (trying to scare him) and please not > >>> > be so mad (in fear of him and what he might do). Telling him that my > >>> > husband had returned and we were reconciling was a lie, and I told him > >>> > this to make him think I was not alone! Imagine the feeling I felt in > >>> > the pit of my stomach when he came back with the following response > >>> > "You're a lying b----, your husband is not there with you...you are > >>> > alone!" I hung up on him and immediately called the Brossard County > >>> > Sheriff's office and told them what had happened. They sent an > >>> > officer over to take a report and said that was really all they could > >>> > do for me at that time. So, I packed a few belongings into my car, > >>> > and drove to my sister's home for the night. Fifteen or twenty minutes > >>> > after I arrived at her home, I received a phone call from this man > >>> > again! He knew I called the Sheriff and reported him, he knew where I > >>> > was and he knew my sister and her husband's names! > >>> > > >>> > People, let me tell you something, this man had been stalking me for > >>> > weeks and I had no idea! I walked, ate, slept and breathed in constant > >>> > fear until he was finally arrested for stalking! Not for stalking me! > >>> > Nope! For stalking another lady who lived in Kendall, FL. > >>> > > >>> > I wanted to share this with you all. And yes, it is all true. > >>> > Friends, when you forward things and you leave your friends names out > >>> > in plain view like that, you are putting THEM and YOURSELF in what > >>> > could be grave danger. I hope I have gotten this message across; as I > >>> > have not even begun to mention his assault (rape, using deadly force) > >>> > charges the detectives from Broward County and Kendall, FL uncovered > >>> > on him while investigating his prior history! > >>> > > >>> > People, please! Be safe, be careful and BLIND CARBON! > >>> > This is NOT a joke and NOT a hoax. > >>> > PLEASE REMEMBER: It is Important to remove ALL personal email when > >>> > forwarding items from this, or any other list to individuals or other > >>> > discussion groups (unless the message asks readers to contact them via > >>> > email or phone). Remember, a lot of us have a great deal of > >>> > information in our sig's (signature files that appear at the bottom of > >>> > many of our messages). In addition, the blind carbon copy (BCC) option > >>> > makes the individuals you send email to unseen by all other recipients > >>> > E-mailers should also cut out email addresses from forwards when > >>> > forwarding the message on. I know I have received unsolicited e-mails > >>> > from individuals who have gotten my address via a forwarded message > >>> > from this group. > >>> > > >>> > Although more annoying than serious, it could have been worse.