Marks & Spencer Vouchers Hoax

Oh dear, someone obviously has a grudge against either Marks and Spencer or Persimmon Homes, or both, as some nice person has created a new 'forward e-mail for money/prizes' hoax.

Here's the version that is currently clogging up inboxes and mail systems all over the UK.

Fw: Free M&S vouchers
Marks & Spencer's, in conjunction with Persimmon Homes, are giving away free vouchers. Marks & Spencer's are trying word-of-mouth advertising to introduce its products and the reward you receive for advertising for them is free non-refundable vouchers to be used in any M&S store.

To receive your free vouchers by e-mail all you have to do is to send this email out to 8 people (for £100 of free vouchers) or 20 people(for £500 of free vouchers).

Within 2 weeks you will receive an e-mail with your vouchers attached. They will contact you through your e-mail address.

Please mark a copy to:[email address removed]

How do I know this is a hoax? Well, for one I have spoken to Persimmon Homes and they are aware of the hoax, their e-mail systems are in meltdown because of it, and they will be putting a warning about this hoax on their website later today.

Secondly, it seems that the person behind it has simply taken an existing hoax aimed at Sony Ericsson, which is based on an even older hoax which targeted Nokia.

Just to sum up; this e-mail is both a hoax and a chain e-mail. You will not get any vouchers but you will annoy lots of people if you insist on sending this to 8-20 people, so just say NO and don't forward it.

If you want to see more of these sorts of debunks of scams, hoaxes, urban legends, etc. then take a look at my site dedicated to these things: cluestick.info.

UPDATE:

Persimmon have now added a note to one of their webpages about this, screenshot below:



Quite why they tucked it away there instead of on one of the front pages of their sites; seems they don't want to help themselves?

It appears that anyone now sending an e-mail to the address in the hoax will get an auto-response stating:

A hoax e-mail is being circulated offering a promotion of free Marks and Spencer vouchers for forwarding the e-mail to colleagues and friends.

Neither Marks and Spencer or Persimmon Homes have made any such promotional offer.

Please delete the hoax e-mail and notify the people to whom you have sent it that it is a hoax.

'Nuff said!