Heidi Norton
There have been rumours circulating on social media that seven women died after inhaling perfume samples that were mailed to them. The messages claim that the perfume was poisonous and that the deaths were being covered up to avoid causing public panic and to avoid giving terrorists ideas. However, these messages are part of a hoax that has been spreading for over 20 years. There have never been any verified reports of women dying from inhaling perfume samples.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nature of the claim | Seven women died after inhaling perfume samples that were mailed to them. |
| Source of the claim | A message that claimed to be from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Office of Risk Management and Gleneagles Hospital. |
| Veracity of the claim | False. |
| Type of message | Chain message hoax |
| Date of origin | Late 2001 or early 2002. |
| Primary drivers of the message | Forwarded emails and message boards. |
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What You'll Learn
- The warning about seven women dying from inhaling perfume is a hoax
- The warning was circulated on Facebook and through chain messages
- The warning was supposedly issued by a hospital and police department
- The warning claimed the perfume samples were poisonous or laced with anthrax
- The warning advised people to throw away any free samples they received in the mail
The warning about seven women dying from inhaling perfume is a hoax
However, this hospital has refuted the message, stating that they have never admitted or treated such patients and that the email did not originate from their hospital or any of their employees. The hospital also clarified that they did not authorize anyone to deliver or circulate such warnings. The Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., has also confirmed that they did not issue any such warning.
This hoax is a variation of other chain message hoaxes that involve receiving dangerous items in the mail, such as the Klingerman virus hoax, which involved sponges from gift packages. The warnings about the seven women's deaths were fueled by reports of letters laced with anthrax following the 9/11 terror attacks, which created nationwide panic. However, there have never been any verified accounts of women dying from inhaling perfume samples in the mail.
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The warning was circulated on Facebook and through chain messages
In 2016, a warning began circulating on Facebook that seven women had died after inhaling perfume samples sent to them in the mail. The warning, which was widely shared across the United States, claimed that "Glen Eagles" hospital had issued the alert. However, many people who shared the message were unsure what or where "Glen Eagles" hospital was. The message also speculated that ISIS or terrorists might be behind the attacks and that the news media was keeping the story under wraps to avoid inspiring further attacks or causing panic.
The warning circulated on Facebook and through chain messages via email and SMS. One example of the message, which was also shared on Facebook, reads:
> "TO ALL FACEBOOK FRIENDS: CNN has issued a warning!!!! If you get anything in the mail pertaining to Tide (Detergent) DON'T OPEN IT! Toss It immediately (ANTHRAX) 7 people have died !!1 Please do not take this lightly !!!"
Another example of the message, which was also shared on Facebook, reads:
> "URGENT !!!!! Seven women have died after inhaling a free perfume sample that was mailed to them. The product was poisonous. If you receive free samples in the mail such as lotions, perfumes, diapers, etc. – throw them away! The government is afraid that this might be another terrorist act. They will not announce it on the news because they do not want to create panic or give the terrorists new ideas. Send this to all your family and friends."
This message has been debunked by fact-checking organizations, which have confirmed that it is a hoax. The warning has been circulating in various forms for at least 20 years, with some sources claiming that it first appeared in 2001 or 2002. Gleneagles Hospital in Kuala Lumpur has also denied any connection to the message.
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The warning was supposedly issued by a hospital and police department
The warning, which has been circulating since at least 2001, is a hoax. The message claims to be from a police department and a hospital, usually "Glen Eagles" hospital or Gleneagles Hospital Limited. The message warns that seven women have died after inhaling poisonous free perfume samples that were mailed to them. The message also claims that the government is not announcing this news because they do not want to create panic or give terrorists ideas.
The warning began circulating on Facebook around April 12, 2006, and was widely shared across the United States. Many versions of the claim added speculation that ISIS might be behind the attacks, or that the news media had kept it quiet so as not to inspire terrorism or cause panic. No dates, cause of death, mechanism of poisoning, or other details were provided about the purported tainted perfume samples.
The Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., has confirmed that they did not issue any such warning. Gleneagles Hospital Kuala Lumpur and Gleneagles Hospital Limited have also refuted the message, stating that they have never admitted or treated such patients and have never been aware of such incidents. They also confirmed that the message did not originate from their hospital or any of their employees.
The warning is a variation of a hoax that first began circulating in 2001. In that version, the message warned of people becoming sick with a viral infection after using a sponge from a gift package delivered in the mail. This hoax was also debunked by news organizations.
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The warning claimed the perfume samples were poisonous or laced with anthrax
A warning circulated on Facebook in 2016, claiming that seven women died after inhaling poisonous perfume samples. The message, which was also spread via email and SMS, purported to be from a police department in Washington, D.C., and Gleneagles Hospital. It warned people to throw away any free samples of lotions, perfumes, or other products they received in the mail, as they might be poisonous or laced with anthrax. The warning claimed that the perfume samples were responsible for the deaths of seven women who had inhaled them and that this information was being withheld from the public to avoid causing panic and giving terrorists ideas.
This warning is a hoax that has been circulating in various forms since at least 2001. The original hoax claimed that the women died after inhaling perfume samples laced with anthrax, a deadly bacteria that can be easily inhaled. While there were cases of anthrax-laced letters causing nationwide panic and resulting in five deaths following the 9/11 terror attacks, there have never been any verified reports of deaths caused by inhaling perfume samples, whether laced with anthrax or any other poisonous substance.
The warning typically urges people to forward the message to their friends and family, which has contributed to its widespread circulation. It often includes statements claiming to be from a reliable source, such as a hospital or the police, to add credibility to the false information. For example, one version of the hoax mentions "Glen Eagles" hospital, while another mentions Gleneagles Hospital Limited, Kuala Lumpur. However, representatives from Gleneagles Hospital have denied any connection to these messages and have confirmed that they never admitted or treated patients for such incidents.
The hoax has evolved over the years, with some versions adding speculation about ISIS involvement or other terrorist acts. The message often includes vague warnings about the government keeping such incidents under wraps to avoid panic and giving terrorists ideas. However, it is important to note that no dates, cause of death, mechanism of poisoning, or other specific details are provided in these warnings. Additionally, it is highly unlikely that multiple grieving families would remain completely silent about the deaths of their loved ones.
While it is understandable that people may be concerned about the safety of perfume samples and other free products, it is important to verify the information from reliable sources before spreading it further. In this case, the warnings about poisonous or anthrax-laced perfume samples causing the deaths of seven women are unfounded and should be disregarded.
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The warning advised people to throw away any free samples they received in the mail
A viral message claiming that seven women died after inhaling poisonous free perfume samples circulated on Facebook and via email and SMS in 2016. The message, which has been debunked, warned people to throw away any free samples they received in the mail, including lotions, perfumes, and diapers. It also advised people to send the message to their friends and family.
The message claimed to be from a police department in Washington, D.C., and Gleneagles Hospital, but both organizations have denied any involvement in issuing the warning. The hospital stated that they have never admitted or treated patients for such incidents and that the email did not originate from any of their employees.
The hoax is a variation of an older scam that first began circulating in 2001. In that version, the message warned people about Tide detergent samples in the mail containing anthrax. This scam also claimed that seven people had died, but there were no verified accounts to support this. The 2016 version specifically targeted free perfume samples and claimed that seven women had died after inhaling the poisonous product.
While it is important to be cautious when receiving unsolicited packages or samples in the mail, it is essential to verify the accuracy of such warnings before taking any action. In this case, the warning about seven women dying from inhaling poisonous perfume samples is a hoax, and there have been no verified reports of such incidents occurring.
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Frequently asked questions
No. This is a hoax that has been around for over 20 years.
The hoax claims that seven women died after inhaling poisonous free perfume samples that were mailed to them.
The earliest versions of the hoax were spread via forwarded emails and message boards in late 2001 or early 2002.
Some versions of the hoax claim that the warning about the poisonous perfume samples came from Gleneagles Hospital. However, the hospital has refuted this and stated that they have never admitted or treated such patients.
The hoax message often included speculation that the deaths were caused by a terrorist act and that the government would not announce it to avoid creating panic and giving terrorists new ideas.
