Yahoo! Hoaxes

Introduction

Some people have nothing better to do than start rumours and/or cause users to do weird things.  In most cases, the user who starts the rumour or hoax gets nothing from it.  Below I discuss some of people's hoaxes and/or rumours.

Note: You may receive the text as a room message, a Private Message or in E-Mail.  It doesn't matter where, they are all false.  The sample text below may not be the exact text, but similar, as the messages vary between users.

General Points to remember about Yahoo!
Yahoo! NEVER:

• Communicate to its users via Private Messages.
• Communicate to its users via Chat Room Text.
• Send files to its users via File Transfer, E-mail, or any other way.
• Ask via any form for users to re-submit their information.
• Use geocities pages for logins, or use geocities pages to transfer files.

• Submit your information to Official Yahoo! Websites.

Reinstate User Rooms

After many month of deliberations, Yahoo has decided to reinstate the ability to create user rooms. This will be permitted only in areas marked as "adult content" areas. You must be 18 years old or over to access these areas. To be eligible for this service simply right click on the group name of your buddy list and select "Send Instant Message to All in Group". Paste this message into the box that appears and click the "Send" button. This will allow you to continue to view them on your buddy list once the new user room system upgrade takes place

Hard Drive Killers

if somebody by name dvorak@yahoo.com adds you. dont accept it. Its a virus. Tell everyone on ur bulletin because if somebody on ur list adds them, u get the virus too. Tell everyone on your list not to open anything from angell11, tewwtuler, and sassybitch. It is a hard drive killer and a very horrible virus.pass this letter to everyone on your buddy list. We need to find out who is really using these accounts. Sorry for the inconvienience. Sincerely, Director of Yahoo Services, tanwir2001
Yet Another Hoax
Somebody adding you to their list, or you adding them is not enough for them to harm you. You'd have to download from them, and you should NEVER do this unless you know the other user, and have communicated the file transfer with them in advance.

Only 57 Names Left!

the director of yahoo, Tim Buiski, Sorry for the interuption, but Yahoo is closing the system down because too many booters are taking up all the names, we only have 57 names left, if you would like to close your account, don't send this mesage, if you want to keep your account, send this message to everyone on your list. This is no joke, you'll be sorry you didn't send it. Thanks, Director of Yahoo, Tim Buiski, WHOEVER DOESN'T SEND THIS MESSAGE YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE DEACTIVATED AND IT WILL COST $10.00 A month to USE IT TO SEND
It's exactly that, a Joke
You won't be sorry for not sending it, you'll be sorry for sending it because all you will do is annoy your friends! Ignore all e-mails like this, there are too many variants to state here, but they are all hoaxes.

Dear user of Yahoo.com,

Some of our clients complained about the spam (negative e-mail content) outgoing from your e-mail account. Probably, you have been infected by a proxy-relay trojan server. In order to keep your computer safe, follow the instructions.
Advanced details can be found in attached file.
In order to read the attach you have to use the following password: 21685.
Best wishes,
The Yahoo.com team

Email:
Sample Text:

DEAR YAHOO _User_, This* ema!l !nform You That your_ YAHO0 User ID (USERID@yahoo.com) _will_ be BL0CKED _after_ 23 days` (_as_ _after_ autoomateed reegisttration) _if_ You _will not s1gn up _on_ _Yahoo_ wh1te List (T0 signup - click HERE: http://USERID.yahoo.com/) This_is done beecause we` update _now_ _Yahoo_ N0T autoomateed reegistered account`s. 5J7Io4oFp

I cannot suggest what the aim of this email. It's certainly not real. The spelling and grammar is awful. Delete the e-mail immediately, don't click the links or download any attachments.

Rumour 1: Yahoo! are to Charge $10 a month for Yahoo! Messenger
Sample Text:

"Yahoo! is planning to charge Yahoo! Messenger as of <DATE>.  If you want to keep Yahoo! Messenger free of charge, please send this message to everyone you know.  Each person who receives this message counts as one 'signature' of which Yahoo! requires 1,000,000 to stay free".

Achieved: This is an old rumour, and has existed for other Instant Messaging platforms.  The user who starts such a rumour gains nothing other than seeing gullible people going out of their way to send every user and every room a message like the above.  It's also possible that Yahoo!'s servers get slightly more busy as people are trying to send everyone else the same message.
Danger: NONE

Rumour 2: A new type of buddy list!  Just send a group message to 10 or more users!
Sample Text:

"Right click on your group name of your buddy list and check send this message to all the people in this group Copy this and send it to your friends in the group. If you send this msg to 10 people, a new type of buddy list will appear! It will tell you where someone is, who they are talking to, and if they have more than one screen name."

Achieved: This is false, there is no such thing, even though the person sending you the message probably precedes the text with a statement such as "it actually works!".  Again like the above, the user just hopes that the message somehow floods Yahoo! servers, and enjoys watching people unknowingly contribute more messages into the Yahoo! system.  It's also possible under some conditions, sending such large amounts of messages could cause a temporary block on your account.
Danger: In extreme circumstances, a temporary account lock.

Rumour 3: Yahoo! recently lost your password, reply with your new password ...
Sample Text:

Achieved: If you fall for it, the user now has your username and password.  They can log into your account, change the password and use it.  A few things to note:
1. Yahoo! never ask for your password.
2. A Yahoo! employee has an email address in the form @yahoo-inc.com
3. You would never be approached by a Yahoo! Employee in a chat room.
Danger: If you fall for it, you will lose your account to the users.

Rumour 4: Variant of Above - Resource limits, all accounts deleted
Sample Text:

"Yahoo! resources are being stretched and many of our users no longer use their accounts.  If you still use your account, you must reply to this message immediately will up to date information.  If you do not reply, your account will be deleted by <Date>"

Achieved: They hope you will reply to them with such information as password, secret question/answer, location etc...
Danger: High if you submit your information.

Virus in Messenger - Must send all buddies an IM
Thanks to 'Andrea' who sent us this one.
Sample Text:

Yahoo now has a virus in its 'yahoo messenging' system and it is now active on this server ...... By default if you don't send this message to everyone on your list......as soon as you delete this message a worm hole virus will enter your hardrive and slowly eat away at all of your files.

Achieved: Another method by which they wish for users to send numerous messages to each other. Although virus transfer is possible over messenger, only if you accept files (or other extreme circumstances).

And another resource issue
Thanks to 'Darlyne' who sent this one.
Sample Text:

Yahoo Alert: Yahoo is shutting down on August 17,2003 because they are running outta space and all the names are getting took up, so pass this around if you don't want your name to be deleted from Yahoo. If you don't pass this on, then your Yahoo will be shut down for good. Those that don't send, your name will be deleted August 17,2003, thanks, Yahoo Board Leader, Tom Buslowski

So the Yahoo! leader speaks with words such as "outta" now in official correspondence? He also misses the ! off the Yahoo! name? No. Just another weirdo's idea of fun!

Competition to Win a Laptop, Just $1
Sample Text:

Hello, My name is Melissa Birch. Im a live rep here @ Yahoo! We have a contest going on where we give away a brand new Toshiba Laptop fully loaded which retails for over $4,999.95 Plus includes over $2000 in free software to one lucky chatter every 24hrs. Would U like to enter? If so, click here now & Send $1/per entry requested <LINK HERE> . UNLIMITED ENTRIES!..GOOD LUCK..u could be our next winner! We have your info on file If you're the winner we'll notify you via email!

Achieved: They get $1 each time you fall for it - each time you think you are adding an entry. Yahoo! do not have reps in their rooms, nor do they run competitions using unofficial mediums such as Paypal and PMs.
In fact, Yahoo! and HSBC are partners for the financial services offered to users, hence Paypal would not be used!
I also draw your attention to the "Non Refundable Donation" item type in the link!
If you fell for it, you will only lose what you paid, there is no risk of your CC details being transfered, or more funds being withdrawn.
Danger: You lose $1 every time you submit your cc number via paypal.

1000 Questions
Some users wont come out direct and ask for your password like in the rumours above, instead they pretend to be your buddy, asking you all sorts of questions.  There aim is to get your location, date of birth, and answers to the secret questions.  Why? If they have this, they have enough information to apply for a new password, when they click the "Forgot My Password" links.
By pretending to be your friend, and have common interest, they hope to get the details they require by working down the list of possibilities.

I will help you - what's your password?
A user either pretends to be from Yahoo! or just states that they need your password to help with your problem.  Find this type of user in help rooms.  They will look for users needed problems, offer help, then take your password.  You will receive no further help.  You will most probably find your account taken after you logout too.

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