Klingerman Virus is coming to people's homes in blue envelopes-Fiction!

A Virus Deadly to Humans is Being Spread by Envelopes in the Mail -Fiction!

Summary of eRumor:
This email says a malady called THE KLINGERMAN VIRUS is being randomly spread through the U.S. Mail and that there have been deaths as a result. Some versions say the warning has been issued by the Schwab company. The virus is in a small sponge sealed in plastic and sent in a large blue envelope that says, "A gift for you from the Klingerman Foundation." It is described as a virus never previously known and that the Centers For Disease Control and local authorities in Florida are working on it. It claims that 23 people have been infected and that seven of them have died.

The Truth:
This is a hoax. Federal and Florida health authorities have no reports of such a virus. There also does not appear to be any such organization as The Klingerman Foundation. If such deaths had actually happened, there would be health warnings and media coverage.

There are other versions of the eRumor. One calls the virus the "Cleanman" virus. Another says the envelope comes from the "Klinman" Group and says to put it in a zip-lock bag, then a brown bag, then to call the police.

The story started circulating on the Internet long before the terrorist attacks on America, but experienced a revival that coincided with the appearance of anthrax on letters received through the mail. It has caused some people to ask whether there is a connection. There is no connection. One is a hoax. The other is a reality.

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

There are a couple of versions, one of which claims to have originated from the Schwab headquarters:

Version #1

This is from Schwab corporate headquarters - so it's no joke.

Very scary. Be careful ...please read, it definitely is a serious threat to our lives and health.

This is an alert about a virus in the original sense of the word...one that affects your body, not your hard drive.

There have been 23 confirmed cases of people attacked by the Klingerman Virus, a virus that arrives in your real mail box, not your e-mail in box. Someone has been mailing large blue envelopes, seemingly at random, to people inside the US. On the front of the envelope in bold black letters is printed, "A gift for you from the Klingerman Foundation." When the envelopes are opened, there is a small sponge sealed in plastic. This sponge carries what has come to be known as the Klingerman Virus, as public health officials state this is a strain of virus they have not previously encountered.

When asked for comment, Florida police Sergeant Stetson said, "We are working with the CDC and the USPS, but have so far been unable to track down the origins of these letters. The return addresses have all been different, and we are certain a mailing service is being used, making our jobs that much more difficult." Those who have come in contact with the Klingerman Virus have been hospitalized with severe dysentery. So far seven of the twenty-three victims have died. There is no legitimate Klingerman Foundation mailing unsolicited gifts.

If you receive an oversized blue envelopee in the mail marked "A gift from the Klingerman Foundation". DO NOT open it. Place it in a strong plastic bag or container and call the police immediately.

The "gift" is one you definitely do not want to open.

PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO EVERYONE YOU CARE ABOUT.

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Version #2

Subject: Fwd: Fw: BEWARE

This is an alert about a virus in the original sense of the word...one that affects your body, not your hard driv

There have been 23 confirmed cases of people attacked by the Klingerman Virus, a virus that arrives in your real mail box, not your e-mail in box.

Someone has been mailing large blue envelopes, seemingly at random, to people inside the US. On the front of the envelope in bold black letters is printed, "A gift for you from the Klingerman Foundation." When the envelopes are opened, there is a small sponge sealed in plastic. This sponge carries what has come to be known as the Klingerman Virus, as public health officials state this is a strain of virus they have not previously encountered. When asked for comment, Florida police Sergeant Stetson said, We are working with the CDC and the USPS, but have so far been unable to track down the origins of these letters. The return addresses have all been different, and we are certain a remailing service is being used, making our jobs that much more difficult." Those who have come in contact with the Klingerman Virus have been hospitalized with severe dysentery. So far seven of the twentythree victims have died. There is no legitimate Klingerman Foundation mailing unsolicited gifts. If you receive an oversized blue envelope in the mail marked,"A gift from the Klingerman foundation", DO NOT open it. Place the envelope in a strong plastic bag or container, and call the police immediately. The "gift" inside is one you definitely do not want.

PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO EVERYONE YOU CARE ABOUT.