In a message dated 6/22/00 9:45:38 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<<
 Subject: FW: Fw: Make sure you read this, and be careful when your
 pumping gas


 > Subject: Re: Fw: Make sure you read this, and be careful when your
 > pumping gas
 >
 >> >
 > > > **********DANGEROUS PRANK:*****************
 > > > Please read and forward to anyone you know who drives.
 > > >
 > > > My name is Captain Abraham Sands of the Jacksonville, Florida Police
 > > >Department.       I have been asked by state and local authorities to
 > > >write  this email in order to get the word out to car drivers of a very
 > > >dangerous prank that is occurring in numerous states. Some person or
 > > >persons have been affixing hypodermic needles to the
 > > > underside of gas pump handles.  These needles appear to be infected
 with
 > > > HIV positive blood.  In the Jacksonville area alone there have been 17
 > > > cases of people being stuck by these needles over the past  five
 months.
 > > > We have verified reports of at least 12 others in various states
 around
 > > > the country.  It is believed that these may be copycat  incidents due
 to
 > > > someone reading about the crimes or seeing them reported on  the
 > > >television.
 > > >      At this point no one has been arrested and catching the
 > > >perpetrator(s) has  become our top priority. Shockingly, of the 17
 people
 > > >who where stuck, eight have tested HIV  positive and because of the
 > > >nature of the disease, the
 > > >others could test  positive in a couple years.
 > > >      Evidently the consumers go to fill their car with gas, and  when
 > > >picking up
 > > > the pump handle get stuck with the infected needle. IT IS IMPERATIVE
 TO
 > > >CAREFULLY CHECK THE HANDLE of the gas pump each time
 > > >you use one. LOOK AT EVERY SURFACE YOUR HAND MAY TOUCH, INCLUDING
 > > >UNDER THE HANDLE.  If you do find a needle affixed to one, immediately
 > > >contact your local  police department so they can collect the evidence.
 > > >      PLEASE HELP US BY MAINTAINING A VIGILANCE AND BY FORWARDING
 > > > THISEMAIL TO ANYONE YOU KNOW WHO DRIVES.  THE MORE PEOPLE WHO KNOW OF
 > > >THIS  THE BETTER  PROTECTED WE CAN ALL BE.
 > > >
 > > > >>