The internet never forgets. This also applies to the following false report, which has been making the rounds online for 11 years.

Free keychains: The following message, which is making the rounds on Facebook again, first appeared in 2008. The warning about the free keychains is floating around either as text or as a graphic, mostly on Facebook and WhatsApp. This was probably created in English-speaking countries and was distributed via email at the time. It's that old, older than Facebook.

Screenshot: Facebook / mimikama.org
Screenshot: Facebook / mimikama.org

The content of the graphic that is currently doing the rounds in this form, and which the Federal Criminal Police Office warned about in 2012, is:

!!! A warning to “everyone”!!! Currently, in many places... at gas stations or in parking lots, key rings, small jewelry for the car, etc. are supposedly being offered/given away free of charge! Do not accept these items!!! There is a chip processed into it. Criminals locate this chip and follow you from the gas station to your home in order to be able to determine when you are home or not. If you are away, they can take the opportunity and break into the apartment/house! According to the police, this manner is the work of Romanian criminals! A new type of crime. The police in Holland have warned “all” citizens about these fraudsters! Please also inform your friends and acquaintances!

[mk_ad]

The background of the hoax

The gas station chain Caltex (a brand of the US oil company Chevron) distributed key rings at its gas stations in South Africa in 2008 to advertise its premium diesel fuel. The first rumors soon emerged about what mysterious functions it might contain.

The rumor mill was already bubbling between 2008 and 2010

URGENT PLEASE REPOST people at gas stations giving out key chains.. but the key chains have tracking devices to track u too ur house so they can rob u blind.. please pass this on too everyone on ur friends list please.. it could be ur mother or father that will accept one of them from these ……people!!!!!

This gave rise to the legends that emerged in the USA in 2010 and have now also made it to Germany and Austria.

Related to the topic: Don't believe everything you read on the internet!


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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )