Discuss this posting at The Religion Forum with this message: (Interfaith Discussion) or the Fellowship Forum at this message: (Christian Fellowship Discussion).
Below is a copy of an exchange I recently (this morning)had. Missing are some awful pictures of a little girl with burns all over her body. It is heart-rending. The distribution list is churches of my denomination. There is a personal address and a bank address included, but not verifiable data. My response tells it all. If I find out this is reputable, you and the members of Religion Forum and Christian Fellowship Forum will be the first to know.
I have been doing some posting some articles and links on money over the last few days - making it, using it, and giving it responsibly. One of the dangers of the many appeals we receive is that since most of them are hoaxes, we either give irresponsibly or grow cold and unresponsive. Neither option is attractive. The solution is prayerful homework. In my note back to the solicitor and the distribution list, I offer to do that and give a couple of links that will assist.
I hope that I am proven wrong because there is a real kid in that picture. I'd like to see HER get the help she needs. I sadly suspect that it will be through some other avenue, but stand ready, with apron unfolded and fork in hand to eat my words.
C*** C*** S***,
I have a great deal of compassion for the child in the pictures. What
an awful time she must be having. She is in my prayers and I would like
to help her. How can I be sure that by sending you and check and
forwarding this rather nebulous e-mail I will do so?
I suggest that you find someone reputable and known to us to verify and
endorse your request and an existing church or non-profit here in the
states to receive your funds for you and channel them to the medical
providers. There are also several international agencies that might be
able to assist. Someone in the vast e-mail distribution list may have
specific suggestions.
There was no documentation with your e-mail, only a mass mailing to
addresses down-loadable from the Internet with a request to send money
to your personal account and start a chain of forwards that somewhere
along the way would produce some funding. Follow the steps of
accountability and convince me that this is a real request with real
financial accountability and I will pass on your story through my
network and on my sites. Otherwise, it will come across as one of many
scams and chain letters we receive daily - only this time, with
pictures. That may not be the case, but you can eliminate all doubt by
handling this differently. Having done so, you will remove obstacles
like me and my rather significant Internet influence.
Your message seems a lot like that reported here at hoax-slayer.com except that in this e-mail you are actually asking for money.
What we need is the ability to verify this information independently of
your e-mail. Write me back if you want my help building a case for your
requests. I will be happy to help you by making phone calls and
researching possibilities. I will be following this matter on my blog
and in my forums and reporting the results I receive. I will omit the
pictures and your name and e-mail address at this time. If everything
turns out to be "above board," that will be a help to you.
I wish this little girl all the best and will be praying for her.
- Tom Sims
The Dream Factory
http://www.snopes.com/info/whatsnew.xml - a good subscription for
anyone's feed reader -- or
http://us.rd.yahoo.com/my/atm/snopes/*http://add.my.yahoo.com/rss?url=http://www.snopes.com/info/whatsnew.rss
if you use a Yahoo reader.
C**** S*** S*** wrote:
Note: forwarded message attached.
HELP !!!My daughter was severely burnt and need USD25,000.00 for undergo long period treatment.Pls forward this message to any people you know.Sincere donation of any amount can save my daughter life.MAY GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS
THANK YOUDEPOSIT ANY AMOUNT TO MY BANK ACCOUNT AS BELOW :********* BANK MALAYSIA BERHAD (MALAYSIA)etc......
ORSENDING CHEQUE TO MY HOME ADDRESS AS BELOW :Omitted ....
IF YOU NEED FURTHER INFO, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT ... <address omitted > ...
