MSN Messenger is closing down!

Myth

There have been many forwards sent to Internet users around the world, notifying them that soon MSN Messenger will close down and become a paid service. These emails have apparently been sent from Andy and John, the ‘directors’ of MSN Messenger, warning them about their imminent decision:

Hey it is Andy and john the directors of MSN, sorry for the interruption but msn is closing down. This is because too many inconsiderate people are taking up all the name (e.g. making up lots of different accounts for just one person), we only have 578 names left. If you would like to close your account, DO NOT SEND THIS MESSAGE ON. If you would like to keep your account, then SEND THIS MESSAGE TO EVERYONE ON YOUR CONTACT LIST. This is no joke; we will be shutting down the servers. Send it on, thanks.

WHO EVER DOES NOT SEND THIS MESSEAGE, YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE CLOSED AND YOU WILL COST £10.00 A MONTH TO USE. SEND THIS TO EVERYONE ON YOUR CONTACT LIST. NOW YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO. PLEASE DO NOT FORWARD THIS or REPLAY. COPY THE WHOLE EMAIL. GO BACK TO YOUR INBOX AND CLICK ON NEW. AND PASTE
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION.

Reality

MSN Messenger is among the most popular IM currently used and has more than 130 million user accounts so far around the world. Launched by Microsoft Corporation, the service guarantees a very high capacity of available accounts. So if you have received this email, it is simply a scam.

1. MSN Messenger will not become a paid service as its competitors make their service free of any charge. Hence, one of the most popular IM will definitely not risk becoming the less used service around the world.
2. If MSN Messenger had any intentions of closing down, you would have received an official email from Microsoft Corporation and not from ‘Andy’ and ‘John’, especially not in an informal format.
3. Microsoft Corporation is among the most important companies of the world and definitely has a Public Relation department. Hence, it will never ask you to forward an email to your contacts as they have a detailed database about the users that is constantly controlled and updated.
4. This notification has been sent since 2001 and since, nothing has been done…