Briddock gives email safety advice as Kent Ambulance Service issue plea over email needle hoax

12.09.17pm GMT Sun 6th Nov 2005

Kent Ambulance Service is pleading with people to stop sending out a terrifying hoax email about the dangers of hypodermic needles being planted in cinema seats. The email has reached epidemic proportions, and because it it had been forwarded in good faith but mistakenly by a member of Kent Ambulance Service it appears genuine.

But the service said:

"This is a hoax and should be disregarded. If you receive it, please delete it immediately. Do not send it to anyone."

The email was sent out in good faith by a community resuscitation officer for Kent Ambulance Service based in Maidstone. The message reads: "Please can you all read the statement from The Kent Ambulance Service here in Kent UK. Once you have understood the implications it could pose to you may I respectfully ask you all to pass this information on to your families and friends. Thank you all for your time."

Local computer specialist and businessman Darren Briddock urged everyone to be wary of hoax and "phishing" emails. Darren said:

"There are lots of hoax and scam emails around - as a computer engineer, I get many a day, and get calls from customers every day who are worried by them. There are some simple rules to keep yourself safe. Legitimate organisations will never ask you to forward an email to everyone you know. If the email does, it's almost certainly a hoax - just delete it.

"Businesses will almost never ask you to go to their web site to 'validate' bank or credit card details. If an email requests that - especially if you don't use that business, delete the email.

"Make sure you have virus checker software on your computer, and you have an up to date subscription for that service - it costs no more than £30-40 a year, and can save you hundreds of pounds and hours of problems if a virus strikes."