Many e-mails promise that you will receive money or some other reward, if you forward them to some given number of people. ALL SUCH E-MAILS ARE LIES - because there is no consistent,
reliable method to track the forwarding of e-mail.
The basic procedures used worldwide for handling of e-mail simply do not have any provision for the sender of e-mail to be notified that it was received.
However, in 2001, a method was discovered which allows the original sender of e-mail to receive copies of any forwardings of that e-mail - including any comments that may have been added to the original by those whose inboxes it passed through.
This method relies on Javascript, a programming language. Javascript commands can be embedded into an e-mail - in this case, a command to send a copy of the e-mail to a specified address. Many e-mail programs will execute those commands, without displaying the commands or letting the user know that they are being executed.
If someone wanted to track the forwarding of their e-mail, they could simply embed the appropriate Javascript commands into the e-mail before sending it.
Thus, it is possible, if you forward e-mail, for the person who sent you the e-mail to get a copy of whatever you forward, and to do so without your knowledge. So think carefully before you forward e-mail!
Nevertheless - e-mail CANNOT CONSISTENTLY or RELIABLY be tracked. That's because some e-mail programs do not execute Javascript commands. In other e-mail programs, the user has the
ability to turn off JavaScript execution.
So promises about rewards for forwarding e-mail must still be lies. If someone really was giving a reward for forwarding e-mail, and you did not forward the e-mail, but claimed to them
that you did, they could not prove that you didn't! After all, you might have forwarded the e-mail to people who don't have Javascript enabled. So for liability reasons alone - to avoid claims and lawsuits - no one can realistically promise you anything for forwarding e-mail. Anyone who did do so would not remain financially solvent for long!
You can protect yourself by disabling Javascript in your e-mail program.
Outlook, Outlook Express, and Netscape 6 Messenger users should follow the recommendations
of the Privacy Foundation to disable Javascript.
Eudora users are immune (unless you've specifically changed Eudora's defaults to allow Javascript).
Netscape (previous to version 6) users are immune, because those versions of Netscape do not support the specific Javascript commands involved.
Hotmail and other Web-based e-mail systems are immune, because these systems automatically remove Javascript commands from incoming e-mail messages.
If you use some other e-mail program, check that program's Web site for more information.
BUT BEWARE: Even if you have done this: If you forward e-mail to someone who hasn't, the forwarded e-mail - including anything you added - can still get back to the original sender.
The Privacy Foundation provides a more complete explanation of this matter on its Web site.
BOTTOM LINE: E-MAIL CANNOT CONSISTENTLY OR RELIABLY BE TRACKED. ANY E-MAIL THAT PROMISES YOU A REWARD FOR FORWARDING IT IS LYING.
