Like thousands of others worldwide we received a message sent in ‘good faith’ by a supporter, claiming to be a “Pension Reality Check” and making claims about financial assistance given to uk pensioners compared to asylum-seekers.

Despite have been in circulation since at least 2007, this latest flurry has been bounced on 10 time in 10 days, accumulating well over 70 addresses is this particular strand. Even 10 people sending it on to just 10 people each day would generate 10 billion messages over 10 days!

If you receive a message that you think looks like it could be spam or a hoax PLEASE at least do a google search of a key phrase. In this case a search for ‘pension reality check hoax’ soon revealed info on which the following was based.

Here is my reply…

——————-

To: [name removed]

I hope that this kind of message is not a new trend for you.

It is a Hoax.
See http://www.hoax-slayer.com/uk-pensioners-asylum-seekers-protest.shtml

Not only that but it is tapping into unfounded concerns that should have no part in a movement that seeks to eliminate all discrimination based on species, race, gender or any other arbitrary distinction.

The email asks the recipient to ask of the prime minister:
“I wish to ask you a Question: – “Is This True?”

It then lists the financial assistance that it claims is given by the government to immigrants/refugees compared to uk pensioners.

Now, I have no faith in the motives of any political party or government, but the answer shown at http://www.parliament.uk/briefing-papers/SN05621.pdf suggests that:

“Cash support for asylum seekers is less generous than social security benefits; for example, a single person aged 18 or over currently receives £36.62 a week and a couple £72.52 a week.”

Messages such as this might loose subscribers who are following your [otherwise valuable campaign] news. At best they are ‘tofu’ at worst they are spam, hoaxes or even viruses.

I have always been very keen to encourage a recognition of the inter-relatedness of many issues, so would generally welcome messages that are checked and genuine.

…but

IF forwarding a genuine message to a mailing list please put the email addressses in the ‘blind cc’ (bcc) field, so that they will not be made public to all and sundry.

Also remove any email addresses from previous senders that are not relevant.
For example the 70+ address that have accumulated on this message are likely to end up on a spam list.

Tidying up a message will also it much more readable, and therefore likely to be read.
If you mail 100 people, 15 seconds saved by each when reading it, will collectively save 25 minutes to spend on something useful.

As you may have guessed by now I hate spam, hence this reply, which is based on our Spamish Inquisition advice. Please check it out, otherwise that’s another hour of my life that I’ll not get back.

To quote the original message, one does not have to “have the guts to forward this”, just the prejudice.

.pat.


On Wed, February 8, 2012 8:49 pm, K….. wrote:
>
> —– Original Message —–
> From: “BOB”
> To: ADDRESSES REMOVED

> Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2012 4:22 PM
> Subject: Fw: Fw: From Jenny

>> —– Original Message —–
>> From: B.R.
> To: ADDRESSES REMOVED
>> Sent: Thursday, February 02, 2012 11:46 AM

>> ———- Forwarded message ———-
>> From: Jacky
> To: ADDRESSES REMOVED

>> —– Original Message —–
>> From: John
> To: ADDRESSES REMOVED

>> —– Original Message —–
>> From: james
> To: ADDRESSES REMOVED

——-

>> From: graham
> To: ADDRESSES REMOVED

——-

>> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:16:17 +0000
>> From: philip
> To: ADDRESSES REMOVED

——-

>> Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:36:17 +0000
>> From: tim
>> Subject: Fw: From Jenny
> To: ADDRESSES REMOVED

——-

>> Begin forwarded message:
>>
>> IMPORTANT – PLEASE read and forward
>>
>>
>>
>> Dear Prime Minister, The RT. HON. David Cameron. MP.
>>
>> I wish to ask you a Question: – “Is This True?”
>>
>> I refer to the Pension Reality Check.
>>
>> Are you aware of the following?
>>
>> The British Government provides the following financial assistance:-
>>
>>
>> BRITISH OLD AGED PENSIONER (bearing in mind they worked hard and paid
>> their Income Tax and National Insurance contributions to the British
>> government all their working life) Weekly allowance: £106.00
>> a.. IMMIGRANTS/REFUGEES LIVING IN BRITAIN (No Income Tax and National
>> Insurance contribution whatsoever) Weekly allowance:£250.00
>> BRITISH OLD AGED PENSIONER Weekly Spouse allowance: £25.00
>> a.. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS/REFUGEES LIVING IN BRITAIN Weekly Spouse
>> allowance: £225.00
>> BRITISH OLD AGED PENSIONER Additional weekly hardship allowance £0.00
>> a.. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS/REFUGEES LIVING IN BRITAIN Additional weekly
>> hardship allowance £100.00
>> A British old age pensioner is no less hard up than an illegal
>> immigrant/refugee yet receives nothing
>> a.. BRITISH OLD AGED PENSIONER TOTAL YEARLY BENEFIT£6,000
>> b.. ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS/REFUGEES LIVING IN BRITAIN TOTAL YEARLY
>> BENEFIT:£29,900
>>
>> Please read all and then forward to all your contacts so that we can
>> lobby for a decent state pension.
>>
>> After all, the average pensioner has paid taxes and contributed to the
>> growth of this country for the last 40 to 60 years.
>>
>> Sad isn’t it? It’s about time we put our own people first.
>>
>> Please have the guts to forward this.
>>
>> I just did!