From David Emery,
Your Guide to Urban Legends.
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Netlore Archive: Chain letter claims recipients will receive a free gift voucher from Marks & Spencer and Persimmon Homes if they pass the message along to at least eight other people

Description: Email hoax
Circulating since: June 2007
Status: False
Analysis: See below

Email example contributed by Karen B., 2 June 2007:

Marks and Spencers (M&S) free vouchers.

Marks & Spencers, in conjunction with Persimmon Homes, are giving away free vouchers. Marks & Spencers are trying word-of-mouth advertising to introduce its products and the reward you receive for advertising for them is free non-refundable vouchers to be used in any M&S store.

To receive your free vouchers by e-mail all you have to do is to send this email out to 8 people (for £100 of free vouchers) or 20 people (for £500 of free vouchers). Within 2 weeks you will receive an e-mail with your vouchers attached.They will contact you through your e-mail address.

Please mark a copy to Andy.curran@persimmonhomes.com

Comments: False. This message is a hoax (compare to the very similar Sainsbury's, Ericsson, and British Airways chain letters of years past).

Neither Marks & Spencer (the British retailer) nor Persimmon Homes (British homebuilders) are handing out free vouchers to Internet users who forward the email to their friends. Reputable companies do not conduct business via chain letter.

See the statement from Persimmon Homes below.



Statement from Persimmon Homes Website:

A hoax email is being circulated offering a promotion of free Marks and Spencer vouchers for forwarding the email to colleagues and friends.

Neither Marks and Spencer or Persimmon Homes have made any such promotional offer.

Please delete the hoax email and notify the people to whom you have sent it that it is a hoax.

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Sources and further reading:

Persimmon Homes Statement on Email Hoax
Persimmon Homes corporate Website

Email Giveaway Hoaxes
About.com Netlore Archive

Last updated: 06/05/07