Foward this to X amount of people

[BZeto]

This isn't a networking question really but I don't feel it belongs anywhere else either.
I just got an email from a coworker that says "Forward this to 9 people and you will get a $50 Applebee's giftcard" or something like that.

Now I've received tons of these emails in the past and just deleted them without thinking much of it, because I thought they were rubbish. But somewhere in the email people are saying that it "REALLY WORKS, GOT THE GIFTCARD EMAIL MINUTES AFTER FORWARDING THIS MESSAGE" blah blah. I still refuse to forward the email but is it really possible for this to work?

How could the originator or company involved (granted its not complete bullshit) tell that you
have forwarded the email to X amount of people?
I just want this cleared up once and for all.

Thanks

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: BZeto
How could the originator or company involved (granted its not complete bullshit) tell that you
have forwarded the email to X amount of people?

They can't.

 

[nweaver]

<----------Still waiting for his check from Bill Gates and AOL

 

[n0cmonkey]

I think it would be possible (especially with so many idiots using HTML emails), but no one would do it.

Basically there would need to be a tracking item in the HTML email (1x1 gif or something), probably along with some javascript that could seem malicious if you're paranoid enough.

 

[KuJoe]

The cost to pay a programmer/team to design and track something like that would drain thier finances more than giving out $50 to everybody who actually did that.

 

[JackMDS]

BZeto let me guess, you are a young person and never heard about Pyramid schemes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_scheme

 

[RebateMonger]

I remember that QMail had the ability to track delivery and reading of emails. But only inside your own office.

QMail also allowed you to "Recall" an email that you wish you'd never sent. Except that once the recipient READ the email, you couldn't "Recall" it anymore. At that point, better just pack up your free pencils and paper clips and leave .....

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: nweaver
<----------Still waiting for his check from Bill Gates and AOL

They told me the money would go directly to my Credit Card account. It took forever to type in all that darned Credit Card and Bank Account info.

 

[KuJoe]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
I remember that QMail had the ability to track delivery and reading of emails. But only inside your own office.

QMail also allowed you to "Recall" an email that you wish you'd never sent. Except that once the recipient READ the email, you couldn't "Recall" it anymore. At that point, better just pack up your free pencils and paper clips and leave .....

Microsoft Outlook does the same thing, but only on Exchange servers.

 

[James Bond]

Originally posted by: KuJoe

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
I remember that QMail had the ability to track delivery and reading of emails. But only inside your own office.

QMail also allowed you to "Recall" an email that you wish you'd never sent. Except that once the recipient READ the email, you couldn't "Recall" it anymore. At that point, better just pack up your free pencils and paper clips and leave .....

Microsoft Outlook does the same thing, but only on Exchange servers.

Yes, but it can't tell how many people you forwarded to, and neither could QMail I'm guessing... so neither of those are anywhere close to achieving the task of "tracking how many people you forward this to".

 

[BZeto]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
BZeto let me guess, you are a young person and never heard about Pyramid schemes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_scheme

Nope, never....
Anyways, I figured I could learn something by posting this (which I did). I know very well the intention of the email and was 99% sure no one is actually seeing that $50 giftcard. I just wanted to know the possibilities of being able to track emails and # of forwards, etc. From what I've gathered its not very likely.

 

[KuJoe]

Originally posted by: Tizyler

Originally posted by: KuJoe

Originally posted by: RebateMonger
I remember that QMail had the ability to track delivery and reading of emails. But only inside your own office.

QMail also allowed you to "Recall" an email that you wish you'd never sent. Except that once the recipient READ the email, you couldn't "Recall" it anymore. At that point, better just pack up your free pencils and paper clips and leave .....

Microsoft Outlook does the same thing, but only on Exchange servers.

Yes, but it can't tell how many people you forwarded to, and neither could QMail I'm guessing... so neither of those are anywhere close to achieving the task of "tracking how many people you forward this to".

I know, I don't know why RebateMonger posted that but I figured he had a point so I added more info.

 

[Twr1]

That one has been going around since 2001.

http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/nothing/applebees.asp


Photochop a $50 coupon, send it to the originator of the email with instructions to simply give it to the waitress at the end of their meal.