HIV-infected needles in the handles of gas pumps In Florida or New York-Fiction!

HIV-Infected Needles in the Handles of Gas Pumps In Florida or New York-Fiction!

Summary of eRumor:
Captain Abraham Sands of the Jacksonville, Florida Police Department, or the Buffalo, New York police department, warns that hypodermic needles infected with the HIV virus have been found on gas pump handles. He claims that in Jacksonville alone, there have been 17 cases of people being stuck by the needles and that 8 of them now test positive for HIV. He says there are also 12 other cases elsewhere in the country.

The Truth:
There is no such person as Captain Abraham Sands either in Buffalo or Jacksonville. There are no such incidents of HIV-infected needles being found in gas pump handles. eRumors about HIV-infected needles have been making the rounds of the country for quite a while including ones reported to be found in theater seats, pay phones, etc.. None of them is true. Interestingly, there is also no such thing as the Jacksonville Police Department. Jacksonville is served by a Sheriff's Office, which has issued a statement officially declaring this story a hoax.

A real example of the story as it has been circulated:

***********DANGEROUS PRANK:*****************
Please read and forward to anyone you know who drives.

My name is Captain Abraham Sands of the Jacksonville, Florida Police Department. I have been asked by state and local authorities to write this email in order to get the word out to car drivers of a very dangerous prank that is occurring in numerous states.

Some person or persons have been affixing hypodermic needles to the underside of gas pump handles. These needles appear to be infected with HIV positive blood. In the Jacksonville area alone there have been 17 cases of people being stuck by these needles over the past five months.

We have verified reports of at least 12 others in various states around the country. It is believed that these may be copycat incidents due to someone reading about the crimes or seeing them reported on the television.

At this point no one has been arrested and catching the perpetrator's) has become our top priority.

Shockingly, of the 17 people who where stuck, eight have tested HIV positive and because of the nature of the disease, the others could test positive in a couple years.

Evidently the consumers go to fill their car with gas, and when picking up the pump handle get stuck with the infected needle.

IT IS IMPERATIVE TO CAREFULLY CHECK THE HANDLE of the gas pump each time you
use one.

LOOK AT EVERY SURFACE YOUR HAND MAY TOUCH, INCLUDING UNDER THE HANDLE.

If you do find a needle affixed to one, immediately contact your local police department so they can collect the evidence.

PLEASE HELP US BY MAINTAINING A VIGILANCE AND BY FORWARDING THIS
EMAIL TO ANYONE YOU KNOW WHO DRIVES. THE MORE PEOPLE WHO KNOW OF THIS THE
BETTER PROTECTED WE CAN ALL BE