This picture is being sent to Facebook members via the Superwall application with the following message:
Dear All,
Alexandra came out of a fire alive, but now has to fight for her life and a normal future. She is 14 months old and she has burnt skin all over her body, damage facial bones (as a result of very high temperature). She does not have half of her face. She is in hospital in Krakow – Poland and one of the best specialist is looking after her. However she still has to go through many surgeries and then long rehab. Unfortunately her parents do not have any more money.
Therefore we are asking for your help. For each forwarded email her parents will get 3 cents. Please help them and forward that email to as many people as you can!
You can make a difference!
The tragedy is that this is based on a true story.
The girl’s name is actually Olenka Kuczma, and she survived a house fire in Poland back in 2005.
The statement that 3 cents will be donated from every email forwarded is totally false.
I don’t know what sort of a kick the morons who actually started this get by doing it, but it is a cruel hoax.
I really can’t say much for the people who forward it either, whether on Facebook, or via email!
Do they believe in the Easter Bunny too? I wish that people would stop and think before they send this stuff out.
It qualifies as Facebook spam of the worst kind in my book.
There is no one tracking the emails, there is no one donating money to the cause each time the message is forwarded! Full Stop!
If they really want to help this family, they need to dig into their own pockets and start a legitimate appeal.
I would have no trouble supporting this, and would help promote it.
One of the most common questions that I have been asked by different people is ‘why am I losing friends on Facebook?’
If they’re the ones who send stuff like this out, it’s no wonder.
Stuff like this helps nobody, least of all the victim.
For a full report on this hoax, please go to Snopes.com
What To Do When You Get These:
A lot of people get caught up in the emotion of what they see in front of them when they receive a message like this.
Their first impulse is to send it on, fast, because they simply take the message on face value when they see it.
I can understand this, even though I wish that they would think before they acted.
I’ve received several of these, and I send a message to the people concerned, including the evidence that I have that it is a hoax.
In this case, a link to Snopes.com. I also state the fact that I am willing to help if I can, and that we can all do something.
What I Am Going To Do Next:
I have been told that there is a bank account that people can donate money to. Once I verify this, I am going to publish details on how people can REALLY help – by digging into their pockets.
Like to join me?
If you are aware of any appeal that has been set up, please leave details in the ‘comments’ section below.
