2003. Do you guys remember that year? Sonic X premiered. A few video and media sharing sites were available before YouTube. Mario Kart Double Dash was released. That year was a great time for almost everybody that was around at that time. Everybody except for me. Why? All because of this one website.
It was the first day of summer vacation. Usually, my parents give me a git or two on that day, and they did. this time was special, though. They gave me a cool looking Windows XP computer! But something was odd, though. It had a flat screen, a rarity for 2000's computers. I accepted it anyways, along with a brand new copy of Toontown, which released just 2 days ago. My dad told me that he was going to set up the computer, since mom had no idea how to set up, or even run a computer. While my dad was setting up my brand new computer, I played Pokemon Red on my Game Boy.
Then, the time came. My dad hollered that my Windows XP computer is all set up and ready. I rushed to my room and sat down on my special office chair that was near my desk to my computer. After I picked my background and did a bunch of other personalization junk to my computer, I decided to check my email. It was the usual messages for scams and those weird sites for talking to other people that my parents didn't allow me to visit. I never even visited them, anyways. But there was something odd.
I have gotten a message from a user called "youcantrun", and it was titled "A special message to ____" (I left the end part blank because of privacy reasons). I clicked on it because I was curious of what the message contained. I then began to read the message. This is exactly what it read:
Attention Google users, We have received multiple complaints of this specific website called "1337.info". People said that this website can do one of three things if the user does this: - Goes to the website - Has a black Sharpie marker - Draws an X with the marker - Waits 2 hours - Answers a yes or no question
After that, people claimed that one of three things could happen (like we've mentioned before) - Show a variety of distorted CGI clips for 3 minutes straight - Play the worst rated movie in its entirety - Sends the user in to an alternate dimension
Please be advised that we are currently finding the creator of this website. Don't try to attempt this ever. - Google
Strange. I thought Google would create an email to about everyone on the entire planet with their official account. Oh well. I then messaged them back saying "Is this a prank?" Oddly, they replied in a matter of seconds after I posted that. They said "No. This is all real". I then looked up info about the website online. Nothing came up. It said "Do you mean fake websites exposed?" This might be real.
I decided not to take the risk and went into the living room with my parents. It was just the boring news that they were watching. It was until a few minutes later when something caught my eye.
They were talking about a guy literally named "Hack Ing". They said that he created a website then sent emails to everyone that had an email. Also, they said that Hack was charged $450,000 and was put in jail for 10 years . I then was relieved that I would never get those kinds of emails again. That doesn't keep me from being scarred for at least 5 years, however.
If you get a similar message like this, delete it right away. Don't ever do what an email says if it might harm you.