Hoax:

Subject: UPS Uniforms

Government Warning regarding purchase of UPS uniforms: There has been a huge purchase, $32,000 worth, of United Parcel Service(UPS) uniforms on eBay over the last 30 days. This could represent a serious threat as bogus drivers (terrorists) can drop off anything toanyone

with deadly consequences! If you have ANY questions when a UPS driver appears at your door, they should be able to furnish VALID I.D Additionally, if someone in a UPS uniform comes to make a drop off or pick up, make absolutely sure they are driving a UPS truck. UPS doesn't make deliveries or pickups in anything, except a company vehicle If you have a problem, IMMEDIATELY call your local law enforcement agency right away!

TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY! Tell everyone in your office, your family, your friends, etc. Make people aware so that we can prepare and/or avoid terrorist attacks on our people! Thank you for your time in reviewing this and PLEASE send to EVERYONE on your list, even if they are friend or foe.

We should all be aware!

Kimberly Bush-Carr
Management Program Specialist
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Bureau Customs and Border Protection
Washington, DC 20229

Truth:

This hoax is currently enjoying a new lease on life. The hoax began circulating in early 2003 and has spawned a number of variations, all equally untrue.

Some versions, including the example below, add a signature that supposedly belongs to Kimberly Bush-Carr of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. However, these emails did not originate from a government department. The inclusion of an official looking signature is simply a ruse to add credence to the message's spurious claims.

There are several slightly different versions of the UPS Uniform hoax, all referring to large purchases of United Parcel Service uniforms on eBay. However, there have been no reports of large eBay purchases of UPS uniforms, nor have large quantities of uniforms been reported stolen. According to a Washington Post article both eBay and UPS deny the rumour. Investigations by the FBI have debunked the stories of stolen uniforms as nothing more than urban legends. The article also notes that eBay "has barred sales listings of UPS or any other contemporary delivery service uniforms, including airline uniforms".

In a world increasingly concerned with the threat of terrorism, it is not surprising that false alerts like this one are taken seriously and spread so widely.