International Association of Certified Home Inspectors

**Mario A. Kyriacou, CHI** · #1 10/9/08, 1:58 AM

>> TWO SUBJECT LINES TO BEWARE OF :
>
>
>
> PLEASE INFORM EVERYONE you know!
>
>
>
> Emails with pictures of Osama Bin-Laden hanged are being sent and
>the moment
>
> that you open these emails your computer will crash and you will
>not be able to fix it!
>
>
>
> 1. If you get an e-mail along the lines of 'Osama Bin Laden
>Captured' or 'Osama Hanged' ,
>
> don't open the attachment!!!!
>
>
>
> This e-mail is being distributed through countries around the
>globe, but mainly in the US and Israel.
>
>
>
> 2. You should be alert during the next few days.
>
>
>
> Do not open any message with an attached file called
>'Invitation' regardless of who sent it.
>
>
>
> It is a virus that opens an Olympic Torch which 'burns' the
>whole hard disc C of your computer.
>
>
>
> This virus will be received from someone who has your e-mail
>address in his
>
> contact list.
>
>
>
> It is better to receive this message 25 times than to receive
>the virus and open it.
>
>
>
> If you receive e-mail called 'Invitation', though sent by a
>friend. Do not open it!
>
> Shut down your computer immediately!
>
>
>
> This is the worst virus announced by CNN, it has been
>classified by Microsoft as the most destructive virus ever.
>
>
>
> This virus was discovered by McAfee yesterday, and there is no
>repair yet for this kind of virus.
>
>
>
> This virus simply destroys the Zero Sector of the Hard Disc,
>where the vital information is kept.
>
>
>
>
>
> SEND THIS E-MAIL TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!

Stephen W. Stanczyk · #2 10/9/08, 2:18 AM

Mario Mario Mario. This is an old one. Check Snopes.com. Yes there was a virus attached to the original emails but it was a minor virus that was easily detected and quarantined. If you have basic virus protection, it is caught....

Shawn Rowe · #3 10/9/08, 4:50 AM

From symantec's page

Quote:

discovered: July 1, 2004
updated: May 31, 2007 1:41:42 pm
type: Hoax

the osama hanged hoax is an email hoax that appeared for the first time on the web in 2004. It contains a message that informs the email receiver about osama bin laden being hung. Some versions of the email also contain a link to the web site that hosts malware. Downloading and executing the file may lead to infection.

The original text varies. The following are only examples, since the email circulates in various forms.

example from 2004:

Osama bin ladin was found hanged by two cnn journalists early wedensday evening. As evidence they took several photos, some of which i have included here. As yet, this information has not hit the headlines due to bush wanting confirmation of his identity but the journalists have released some early photos over the internet.
example from 2005:

Emails with pictures of osama bin-laden hanged are being sent and the moment that you open these emails your computer will crash and you will not be able to fix it!!!

This e-mail is being distributed through countries around the globe, but mainly in the us and israel.

Don't be inconsiderate; send this warning to whomever you know.

please ignore any messages regarding this hoax and do not pass on messages. Passing on messages about the hoax only serves to further propagate it.

James H. Bushart · #4 10/9/08, 8:25 AM

Thanks for sharing, Mario.

Michael Larson · #5 10/9/08, 8:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbushart

Thanks for sharing, Mario.

These should be considered rather obvious SPAM emails.

Please just delete them and do not pass them on to anyone else.

James H. Bushart · #6 10/9/08, 8:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlarson

These should be considered rather obvious SPAM emails.

Please just delete them and do not pass them on to anyone else.

Perhaps...but not all of them.

For instance, the daughter of an African Prime Minister has arranged for a large sum of money to be deposited into my bank account. I just gave her the necessary information, yesterday, and by this afternoon...I will be officially retired.

Michael Larson · #7 10/9/08, 8:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbushart

Perhaps...but not all of them.

For instance, the daughter of an African Prime Minister has arranged for a large sum of money to be deposited into my bank account. I just gave her the necessary information, yesterday, and by this afternoon...I will be officially retired.

Good for you James.

Maybe you can ask for a refund from the other association since you won't be needing their services.

James H. Bushart · #8 10/9/08, 9:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mlarson

Good for you James.

Maybe you can ask for a refund from the other association since you won't be needing their services.

LOL.

I plan to contribute more than I take, Mike. The value of associations such as ASHI, NAHI and (to some degree) NACHI comes from what the members put into it. Not the discounts at Office Max.

**Mario A. Kyriacou, CHI** · #9 10/9/08, 9:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sstanczyk

Mario Mario Mario. This is an old one. Check Snopes.com. Yes there was a virus attached to the original emails but it was a minor virus that was easily detected and quarantined. If you have basic virus protection, it is caught....

It can't be that old Stephen! I just received it!