Katrina Rosales
The perfume hoax is a viral chain message that warns people about the dangers of inhaling perfume. The message claims that criminals are using drugged perfume to knock out and rob unsuspecting victims. It also warns that people, especially women, have died from inhaling poisonous free perfume samples. However, these claims have been widely circulated on social media and have been debunked by news organizations and fact-checking websites like Snopes. The perfume hoax is an urban legend that first started circulating in 1999 and has evolved over time, with different details and variations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | As early as 2009 |
| Type | Urban legend, hoax |
| Modus Operandi | Criminals use drugged perfume to rob people |
| Locations | Canada, US, UK, India |
| Spread | Chain messages, emails, Facebook posts |
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What You'll Learn
- The 'perfume shock' or 'perfume hoax' is an urban legend
- The story warns of criminals using drugged perfume to knock out and rob victims
- The hoax has been circulating since 1999 with various details changed
- The 2023 variation of the hoax mentions a 'Metropolitan Police Department'
- The story warns recipients to beware and forward the message to friends
The 'perfume shock' or 'perfume hoax' is an urban legend
The perfume shock or perfume hoax is an urban legend that has been circulating since the late 1990s. The story goes that people, usually women, are approached in public places like malls, parking lots, or movie theater bathrooms and offered to smell a perfume that is being sold at a sale price. However, the "perfume" is actually a substance like Axter or ether that causes them to faint, after which they are robbed.
The hoax has evolved over the years, with the original story involving cologne instead of perfume and an unknown substance instead of Axter or ether. The moral of the story has also shifted from simply warning about parking lot scammers to implying that the recipient might have been a victim if they hadn't received the email warning. Snopes, a fact-checking website, has received multiple emails about this claim over the years, with nearly 1,300 emails since 2015.
Another variation of the perfume hoax involves a chain message claiming to be from a police department, such as the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., or the Mobile Police Department, warning that several women died after inhaling poisonous free perfume samples that were mailed to them. This version of the hoax has been circulating for more than 20 years, with Facebook posts mentioning this scenario dating back to 2009. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website also called these messages a hoax in 2001, stating that they are a variation of another hoax called the Klingerman virus.
While the specific details of the perfume shock or perfume hoax may vary, the underlying theme remains the same: beware of strangers offering you perfume or cologne to smell, as it could be laced with a dangerous substance. This urban legend preys on people's fears of being robbed or harmed and uses the element of scent, which is often associated with pleasant memories and experiences, to create a sense of danger and uncertainty.
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The story warns of criminals using drugged perfume to knock out and rob victims
The "perfume hoax" is a term used to describe an urban legend that began in late 1999 from an incident reported to the Mobile Police Department. The story, which has been circulated via email and social media, warns of criminals using drugged perfume to knock out and rob their victims.
The original story claimed that a woman was knocked unconscious in a movie theater bathroom after being offered perfume to smell. The perpetrators then stole her belongings. The story warns people not to accept perfume samples from strangers, as the perfume may be laced with drugs such as ether or Axter (a brand name for hydroxyzine, a drug used to control anxiety and produce sleep).
Over the years, the story has evolved and spread to different locations, including Canada and Washington, DC. One variation of the story claims that seven women died after inhaling poisonous free perfume samples that were mailed to them. This particular version of the story has been debunked by the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC, and the Gleneagles Hospital in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which was named in the hoax message.
The perfume hoax is a reminder to be cautious when approached by strangers offering free products, especially if the offer involves a potentially harmful substance like perfume. While the specific details of the story may not be true, it is always important to be vigilant and aware of potential scams or dangers.
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The hoax has been circulating since 1999 with various details changed
The "perfume hoax" is a term used to describe a viral message that warns people, usually women, about the dangers of inhaling perfume offered by strangers. The message claims that criminals are using drugged perfume to knock out and rob unsuspecting victims. The hoax has been circulating since 1999, with various details changed each time it resurfaces.
The original incident that inspired the hoax was reported to the Mobile Police Department in 1999. The original story involved an unknown, undetectable substance, later identified as ether, being used to knock out victims in parking lots. Over time, the details changed, with the substance being referred to as "Axter" or "Axeter", and the locations varying from parking lots to movie theaters and malls. The moral of the story also evolved from simply warning about parking lot scammers to implying that the recipient of the message could have been a victim too.
The hoax often takes the form of a chain email or Facebook post, with the sender claiming to have had a close call with the scammers. The message usually includes a plea to forward the warning to friends and family, as the perpetrators are “operating everywhere". Despite being widely circulated, the claims in the message are false and have been repeatedly debunked by news organizations and fact-checking websites like Snopes.
One variation of the hoax involves a fake warning purportedly from the Metropolitan Police Department and Gleneagles Hospital, claiming that seven women died after inhaling poisonous perfume samples that were mailed to them. This particular version of the hoax has been around for more than 20 years and has been debunked by the actual Gleneagles Hospital in Kuala Lumpur, which confirmed that the message did not originate from them and that they have never treated patients for such incidents.
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The 2023 variation of the hoax mentions a 'Metropolitan Police Department'
The "perfume hoax" is a widespread claim that criminals are using drugged perfume to knock out and rob unsuspecting victims. The hoax has been circulating since at least 1999, with various iterations and details changing over time. The 2023 variation of the hoax mentions a Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC, warning that seven women died after inhaling poisonous free perfume samples that were mailed to them. This claim is false and has been debunked by fact-checking organizations such as Snopes and news outlets.
The original hoax began in late 1999 when an incident was reported to the Mobile Police Department. The story goes that criminals would approach people in public places like malls, parking lots, or theatres and offer them a chance to smell a new perfume they were selling. However, the "perfume" was actually a substance that would knock out the victim, allowing the criminals to rob them. In the 2023 variation, the hoax claims that the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC, issued a warning about poisonous perfume samples being mailed to people, resulting in several deaths.
This specific claim can be traced back to at least 2009, when it appeared on Facebook, and even earlier in the form of email hoaxes. The message often claims to be from the Metropolitan Police Department's Office of Risk Management and Gleneagles Hospital, adding a sense of authority to the warning. However, the hospital has denied any connection to the message, and the police department has confirmed that no such warning was issued.
While the specific mention of the Metropolitan Police Department is a newer element, the core of the hoax remains unchanged. It preys on people's fears and the desire to warn their loved ones, leading to its persistence and spread over the years. It's important to verify such warnings and be cautious about forwarding or believing chain messages without credible sources or official confirmations.
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The story warns recipients to beware and forward the message to friends
The "perfume hoax" refers to an urban legend that began circulating in 1999. The story typically involves a warning about criminals using drugged perfume to rob people. The hoax has evolved over the years, with various versions of the story emerging. The original story, reported to the Mobile Police Department, warned of scammers in parking lots offering to let people try a new cologne, which was actually laced with ether, a knock-out drug. The story has since been updated, with the drug being referred to as "Axter", and the setting changing to movie theatres, malls, and Canadian bathrooms. The story warns recipients to be cautious of strangers offering perfume samples and to spread the message to their friends and family.
The hoax has been widely circulated on social media platforms such as Facebook and via text messages and emails. Despite being debunked by fact-checking organizations like Snopes and news outlets, it continues to persist and evolve. The message often includes a sense of urgency and a plea to forward the warning to others, which contributes to its spread.
One version of the hoax claims to be from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Office of Risk Management and Gleneagles Hospital, stating that seven women died after inhaling poisonous perfume that was mailed to them. This particular variation has been around for over 20 years and has been repeatedly debunked by the police and news organizations. The Gleneagles Hospital in Kuala Lumpur even released a statement in 2013 confirming that the message was a hoax and was not issued by them.
The "perfume hoax" is a prime example of how false information can spread quickly and persist over time, especially when it preys on people's fears and urges them to share the warning with others. It is important to verify the accuracy of such warnings before forwarding them to prevent contributing to the spread of misinformation.
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Frequently asked questions
The perfume hoax is a viral chain message that claims to be a warning from the police about the dangers of inhaling perfume. The message usually states that several women died after inhaling poisonous perfume that was mailed to them.
The hoax began in 1999 from an incident reported to the Mobile Police Department. The original hoax claimed that an unknown, undetectable substance was being used to knock out victims and rob them. Over time, the hoax evolved to claim that the substance was perfume laced with ether or Axter, a drug similar to hydroxyzine.
Axter is believed to be a brand name for hydroxyzine, an antihistamine prescribed by doctors to control anxiety and tension caused by nervous and emotional conditions. It can also be used to induce sleep before surgery.
The perfume hoax has been spread through emails, text messages, and social media platforms such as Facebook. Despite being debunked multiple times, it continues to resurface and circulate among users.
