Anyone heard of this threat yet?

"People are sending out objects called "RADAR FREE V44". Some of the people who are sending it are innocent victims who do not know they are sending it because they naively put the object on and it sends itself. If you accept this and put it on, it will *IMMEDIATELY* try to access your lindens!!!! If someone tries to send this to you, do NOT accept it!!! "
I just recieved this email from a trusted friend that sent this in his group emails warning of this.
Please pass this on to your friends and spread the word...especially to new members of SL.
Thanks to all the forum group...Mac

Please don't spread this sort of senseless panic. "Warnings" like this pop up just about every week, and in almost all cases there's nothing behind it to back it up. Your "trusted friend" is spreading rumors.

Now, for safety - any object inworld can only bleed your account dry if you grant it debit permissions, and that is asked via a glaring checkbox. Easy safety tip here - do never click okay if you are not one hundred percent sure about what and who you are granting debit permissions.

It's impossible for an object to steal your L$ unless you give it permission to do so. A big orange box will pop up saying that this object wants permission to debit your account. Do not click "Yes" (or it might be "Accept" - can't remember offhand) unless you're absolutely certain the item is trustworthy.

But really, don't accept candy from strangers. If some random avatar just gives you something, decline it.

Even if it's really yummy-looking?

When I attached this object, it stole all my socks in RL. Be careful.

Oh, I know this one. Devious indeed. Never, ever attach a washing machine!

It only stole one of each of my pairs of socks

This object permanently made all the video feeds in my sim play Billy Mays infomercials. BEWARE!

I cant put the Billy Mays I want so...

http://www.cinevegas.com/cv/images/films/img_pictures/strangerswithcandyposter.jpg

Strangers with Candy!

Oh wait, images don't show here.

NSFW, language:

http://pix.motivatedphotos.com/2009/4/28/633765342017083850-billymays.jpg

I got a notice with that information a few days ago from some group to which I belong. You explicitly have to wear it and I think it asks for permission, which you have to approve. I don't know if it steals your socks, though.

Hey did you get this attachment "NeverGonnaGiveYouUp"?

OH SHIT!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRCymtJjbUA

This item washed all the dye out of my dad's hair and it turned gray again! It's ebil!

No, it steals your underpants.

http://www.apostropher.com/blog/img/underpants-gnomes-business-model.png

Keep it up, you, and I'm taking you back across the street.

Use the img tag, not the url tag.

This object DOES exist. (I have it in my inventory)
It isn't a scam.

I know several people (newbies) who wear it and accepted the yellow grant window to take the money because they don't know better.

And yes .. it DID take there money. ALL there money.

I even reported it to the lindens a few months back and it seems they don't care because the objects is still in SL
Once someone wears/rezzed it,it gives itself to each person in a sim.

Yes, it will take their money, IF they click the Accept Debit Permissions - that is the only way it is able to do so. The Debit Permissions is a large yellow box, very easy to tell it is not the standard dialog box.

Yes, it does send to everyone in range, but again, unless they 1) Accept the item, 2) Attach the item, and 3) Accept the debit permissions, it can not do any financial harm to anyone.

I really wish people would stop mocking others for passing on warnings like this. There are many people in SL that still don't know what is or isn't possible. Sure, nearly everyone reading the SL forums is a being of superior intellect that could never possibly fall for something like this, but it's possible that someone new wandered in by accident. The way people learn that scams like this are possible is by people warning them, so maybe we shouldn't gang-tackle the people waving the red flags.

At least for the scams that are actually possible.

I wore it and turned into an 80-year-old granny from Arkansas! Now the account holder has a bakelite toupee and badly drawn body hair.

She ain't complaining though: says it's better than all them liver spots and wrinkles.

Always wanted a pinkie too.

Thank you Argos : )

I just wanted to give a headsup to newer members of SL.I've been here four years now and learn something new everyday.The reason I have so few posts is that I only post when I have a answer to a question,or something to try to help others.

I wish someone had given me some warnings back then that I had to learn the hard way.*chuckles*
One thing I have learned is as far as this forum goes,the old saying,"no good deed goes unpunished" seems to ring true.

Mac, don't feel bad. We're just having a little fun.

You are quite correct about this object. It DOES exist, and it performs exactly as people have described. It can steal money from the trusting and unwary, and you are right to warn people about it.

The only thing I object to is the way in which these things get blown out of proportion. The way this object was described last weekend in group chat, for instance:

"This thing will give itself to you and steal ALL your Lindens" (and in one version. "...cancel your SL account"

These scary things are not true. The "Free Radar 4.4" and other similar objects will:

1. Offer a copy of themselves to anyone within scanning range.
2. If worn, it will request debit permissions.
3. If permission is granted, it wll drain your account balance.

Some versions of this sort of thing will also do these things if you rez them in world, instead of wearing them. Also, some will then teleport themselves far away, so you can't find them and delete them...so they can keep right on siphoning your account.

Defending against them is simple. Don't accept random items from strangers. And don't click "Yes" in big yellow drop down boxes unless you know what you are doing.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound like I was mocking anyone. I really did lose my socks, but further investigation has shown that my dog was at fault. Sorry for jumping to conclusions.

I'm sorry too: I really am an 80-year-old granny from Arkansas.

I have a tool thats known to steal virginity

Please keep your sheep to yourself.. ;P