In This Instance, a Hoax

By KAREN KAPLAN

Aug. 31, 1998 12 AM PT

An electronic mail warning that America Online will begin charging users $15 a month to send “instant messages” is a hoax, the company said.

A short letter purporting to be from an AOL “assistance director” warns users of the world’s biggest online service that the charges will begin on Sept. 14 unless the company receives 1,000 digital signatures on a petition circulating on the Internet.

“If you want to keep your Instant Messages free of charge, send this mail to everyone you know,” the letter states.

America Online--which last week announced its membership had passed the 13 million mark--said the letter is false and urged people to forward copies of it to AOL’s Community Action Team at TOSEmail1@aol.com. With more than 283 million instant messages sent every day, the short notes also known as “IMs” are one of the Dulles, Va.-based service’s most popular features.

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Karen Kaplan

Karen Kaplan covers science and medical research for the Los Angeles Times. She has been a member of the science team since 2005, including 13 years as an editor. Her first decade at The Times was spent covering technology in the Business section as both a reporter and editor. She grew up in San Diego and is a graduate of MIT and Columbia University.

In This Instance, a Hoax

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