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. > > > > > > >>