Don't drink certain soft drink brands after July 3-Fiction!

Don't Drink Certain Soft Drink Brands after July 3-Fiction!

Summary of the eRumor
There are several versions circulating but they all involve a person in a check-out line at a store behind a person who looks or is dressed Middle Eastern. The Middle Easterner is a few cents short of being able to pay for his or her purchase and the next person in line offers to make up the difference. Later, the Middle Easterner comments on how nice that was and how he or she hasn't been treated right ever since September 11. In appreciation the Middle Easterner offers what seems to be insider terrorist information...not to drink a certain brand of soft drink after July 3. The implication is that the drink is poisoned. Some of the eRumors say to avoid Coke. Some say to avoid Pepsi.

The Truth
Although there is a very real threat of terrorism in the U.S., these stories of terrorists giving safety tips in return for good deeds done to them are very common during times of unrest and no local or federal authorities have any evidence that they are credible threats. In fact, we don't have any evidence that the conversations have actually taken place.

Last updated 6/30/02

A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:

Example #1

A COWORKER OF MINE TOLD US THAT HER STEPMOM WAS AT THE GROCERY STORE IN
LINE BEHIND AN ARAB MAN. HE WAS SHORT $.75 ON HIS GROCERY SO THE STEPMOM
GAVE HIM THE MONEY. HE REPLIED WHY DID YOU GIVE ME THIS ALL AMERICANS
ARE
PIGS. ANYWAY SHE JUST IGNORED THE COMMENT BUT WHEN SHE LEFT OUT OF THE
GROCERY STORE HE WAS WAITING FOR HER IN THE PARKING LOT. HE CAME UP TO
HER AND AGAIN ASKED HER WHY DID SHE GIVE HIM THE MONEY. SHE STATED THAT
SHE WOULD HAVE DONE IT FOR ANYONE. HE REPLIED I CANNOT REPAY YOU BUT I
WILL TELL YOU THIS DO NOT DRINK ANY COCA COLA PRODUCTS AFTER JULY 3RD.
THIS IS VERY SCARY SO PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL. AFTER 9/11 WE CAN'T TAKE
ANYTHING FOR GRANTED.

SHELIA

Example #2

I wanted to let you and everyone know about a warning that was
recieved to us. A 17yr old sister of one of the girls I work with
was at the Shop Rite in Clark buying something for work. She got
on line to pay for her items behind a man who was 2 dollars short
with his bill. She was growing impatient waiting so she gave this
man the 2 dollars he needed and he thanked her and went on his way.

After she payed for her items she left the store and found this
man outside waiting for her. He said he just wanted to thank her
for her generosity because not too many people would have done that
for him especially since 9/11. This man is an Afgan. After he
thanked her he said "Now I want to do a favor for you, tell everyone
you know not to drink Coca-Cola after the end of this month. And with
that he walked away from her."

The 17 yr old went to work absolutely frightened and finally decided
to call the police dept in Clark when she got home. The Clark PD told
her there was nothing they could do to help her. Frustrated she called
the Elizabeth PD and they told her to come right down and make a police
report. They took the report and contacted the FBI, who called her in
for questioning the next morning. They were very thorough with the
questions they asked and asked her for her receipt so they could obtain
the security tapes from the store to try to track this guy down.

I know this girl is not lying, she was too frightened to make it up
this is not the type of thing the FBI takes lightly. So I just wanted
to tell you and the girls about it because Coke is all too common a
drink. You know I am not too happy about it myself, it's making me look at my kitchen a little differently.