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Don't Believe Everything You Read in Your Email

By
Real Estate Agent with Prudential Select Properties

If you've received an email that starts out something like this ...

"This is an actual true story and not one of those Internet stories that are passed on and on. This actually happened to one of my dearest friend's daughter." It goes on to say that the girl was stopped by a "police officer" and evaded a potential rape by dialing #77 on her cell phone. Though there are several variations such as where it happened, the name of the girl, etc. the story is basically the same. The story has no basis of fact.

According to the urban legend research site, Snopes.com, this email began circulating around 2002. The claim is that a college student was able to evade a rapist who was posing as a police officer by dialing #77 on her cell phone. The problem is that dialing #77 does not automatically contact the local sheriff's department. In some states this will connect you to that state's highway patrol, but it is not a code that will work everywhere.

The best thing to do is to dial 911 to connect to the nearest emergency dispatcher for help.

Even though this email is erroneous, it is always good to remind anyone traveling alone - especially teens, the elderly and girls/women - that sometimes rapists and other villains DO disguise themselves as police officers to pull over unsuspecting victims in order to violate them.

So if you're alone, police advise motorists to immediately pull over but keep your doors locked and crack your window to speak to the officer. You can demand to see their photo ID and ask where they work then call 911 to verify this information. And, because there are rare instances of actual police officers that commit such crimes, if you're suspicious you can also slow down, put on your flashing lights and drive to a safe, well-lit, occupied spot.

Some states, such as New York, are trying to deter this type of crime by preventing unmarked state police cars from stopping motorists for routine traffic violations.

You should never get out of your car for a minor traffic offense. If requested to do so, tell them that you'd rather stay inside and that you have 911 on the phone.

Safety and common sense rules whenever you're in a situation that you feel is unsafe or suspicious.

By the way, it is ALWAYS a good idea to verify the accuracy of emails sent that plead for you to forward it. You can find urban legend-busting sites like Snopes.com by doing an Internet search by putting in the subject of the email or part of the email itself. Now go out there and stay safe!

Show All Comments Sort:
Rob Gerhart
Long and Foster - Lansdale, PA
Snopes is a great resource for stuff like this.  Usually if the first sentence tells you its not a scam it is...
Dec 10, 2007 08:34 AM
Frank Jewett
tech4REpros - San Jose, CA
Yes, it is always good to check before forwarding "pass it on" emails.  More than 99% of "pass it on" emails should not be passed on.
Dec 10, 2007 08:35 AM
Suzanne Gantner
Realty Texas - Round Rock, TX
GRI, E-Pro, SRES, SRS, ABR, CNE, REDS, CPS, WCS
Always good to know, since we as Realtors are always in the car and alot of times alone at night.  As we whirl around somethings we forget that these things can and do actually happen.  Thanks for the reminder!!
Dec 10, 2007 08:38 AM
John Stauffer
John Stauffer MBA, E-pro,CRS, ABR, GRI, SRES - Battle Creek, MI
We recieve way to many emails everyday - If You don't leave a clear message in the email and I don't know you - guess what? you get deleted, so I never see any of these "please pass it on" type emails (makes my life simpler).
Dec 10, 2007 08:47 AM
Tony & Darcy Cannon
Aubrey and Associates Realty - Layton, UT
The C Team

Thanks for the reminder!  911 works everywhere, from my experience as an emergency dispatcher, these specialty numbers differ from state to state or county to county, and not all dispatch agencies have the capability to have all of these specialty numbers like #77or whatever.  911 like I said, works everywhere.

Dec 10, 2007 08:48 AM
Kevin Hancock
Evergreen Home Loans NMLS 3182 - Poulsbo, WA
The Hancock Mortgage Team

Snopes is an excellent website.  A co-worker at a previous employer used to constantly forward these e-mails to me, but after proving her wrong about a dozen times, she finally took me off her list.

Always a good idea to "be safe" though!

Dec 10, 2007 08:50 AM