"URBAN LEGEND" ALERT: BOYCOTT PETROL DAY IN AUSTRALIA (22 SEPTEMBER) IS REPEAT OF OLD EMAIL SPOOF

I received an email today that advocates a boycott on petrol purchases in Australia on 22 September 2005 to protest high fuel prices. It is probably a joke/fraud as similar emails have circulated in the United States in the past and they were also fakes. The following is an extract from the email:

THEREFORE THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 22nd HAS BEEN FORMALLY DECLARED "STICK IT UP THEIR BEHIND" DAY AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS NATION SHOULD NOT BUY A SINGLE DROP OF PETROL THAT DAY. THE ONLY WAY THIS CAN BE DONE IS IF YOU FORWARD THIS E-MAIL TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN AND AS QUICKLY AS YOU CAN TO GET THE WORD OUT.

The wording of this email is almost exactly the same as the ones that have circulated in the US with the exception of a few amendments: for example "administration" has become "government" and "US" has become "Australia". Even if such a boycott was carried out, it would have dubious and doubtful effects.