Hoaxes & E-mail that won't Die (ETWD)
Amanda Bundy
PLEASE NOTE: The following email is designated a hoax because it contains multiple "Signals". The combination of more than one or two signals gives strong evidence to support the possibility that the message is not genuine.
NOTE: Hoax Signals are underlined and footnoted for reference.
THE FOLLOWING TEXT IS A LAB SAMPLE OF A MULTI-FORWARDED E-MAIL MESSAGE - !!! DO NOT COPY OR FORWARD IT. IF YOU HAVE PROOF THAT IT IS REAL OR A HOAX, PLEASE LET US KNOW. (webservant@prayertower.net)
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EMERGENCY PRAYER REQUEST(1)
Prayers needed for Amanda Bundy, and her parents. Everyone with large mailing list(2), please forward(3). I am writing to you now to ask for your help. I do not really know how to start a prayer chain(4) but we need a miracle(5). Amanda Bundy is a 6-year-old (6) girl in Greensburg Pennsylvania, the daughter of some very close friends of ours.
A few weeks ago her mother was giving her a hug and felt a lump on Amanda's back. An X-ray showed it to be some sort of growth, and later tests discovered that is a massive malignant tumor that has spread to all parts of her chest and abdomen. There are no organs that are untouched and she has more tumor in her body than she has organs.
As I write this, she is hospitalized after a biopsy of the tumor, and her parents are waiting for the results of a bone marrow test. If her bone marrow is clean, then they have a chance to save her with chemotherapy. If they find cancerous cells in her bone marrow, then the only hope to save her life is a miracle. She is in no pain yet and appears to be a perfectly healthy, beautiful little red-haired girl. She doesn't even know she is sick yet and can't understand why she has to go to the doctor so often if she's not sick. I am asking for your prayers on her behalf
Please pray for her healing and for strength and comfort for her family. She is only six years old. Think of a six year old in your life and imagine that life being cut short. (7) You can only imagine a fraction of the pain and fear her parents are facing. They need a miracle (5) of God's healing so that they can watch their precious firstborn grow up. Normally I hate email chain letters but now I am asking you to send this letter, or copies of it, to everybody you can think of (3) that will pray for Amanda. Please also take her name to your church and church groups and ask others to pray for her healing. Many thanks and may God bless each one of you who cares enough to pray for a little girl's life. I am asking that each and every one of you please forward this (3) on to everyone that you know. Just think if this was your little child (7) going thru this right now. We all know that God can heal this little angel if it is His will. Please take time to do this right now.
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- The word, "EMERGENCY", appears in the Subject/Body of the message
- The theme of the request is "Do you have a large mailing list"? The request seems more concerned about forwarding to those with large list than applying scripture, mentioning God's will or the faith of those around the object of the prayer.
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The request, "Please Forward this to as many as you can" is present.
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The message "Start a prayer chain" is more dominant than spray for this request.
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The phrase "needs a miracle" is used three (3) times
- "Little" child, "angel" are used several time (4)
- There is an obvious attempt to generate an emotional response.
- Dates are missing which would indicate when the request originated.
Other sites with information concerning this request:
