A number of Aardvark readers have written asking if I knew whether the email they received was bona-fide or a scam - well it looks like a scam.

The email states that Jessica Mydek is 7 years old and suffering from an acute and very rare case of cerebral carcinoma. It goes on to say that she has but 6 months to live and that the American Cancer Society and corporate sponsors will donate 3 cents towards continuing cancer research each time the letter is forwarded.

Finally it requests that you email a list of your "collegues" [sic] and friends to an email address at AOL.

Aardvark's research has indicated that the ACS have no involvement with this email. They do not have any record of the child in question and most certainly do not receive any donations as a result.

Spokesperson for the ACS, Susan Jacobs, was very keen that the Internet public be informed that the ACS has nothing whatsoever to do with this email.

AOL have been contacted to find out whether the address given in the email is bonafide and to advise them of a possible fraud.

Chances are that this is a scam being perpetrated by someone looking to obtain a list of gullible Net users who can be targeted later with all manner of "special offers" and "we think you're so stupid you might be interested in this" type of deals. By claiming the involvement of ACS, this is clearly case of fraud and hopefully will be treated as such by the authorities.

The advice of Aardvark and The American Cancer Society is - if you get a copy of this email - ignore it, don't send any email to the address specified and don't pass it on.

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