Matt Leveson : NOT An Email Hoax
Thu, Oct 11, 2007
There are a lot of email hoaxes constantly going around the internet that tell tales of missing people, especially children. Recently I wrote about Evan Trembley and Yohana Ravelo but I have a whole load more such emails sitting on my hard drive too.
I commented before that such emails are often seen as a joke, or claim to fame, by some of the people behind them. Additionally, I mentioned that they distract from real cases of missing persons.
That is exactly what has happened with Matt Leveson.
Someone by the name of Courtenay who would appear to be a friend of Matt’s made a post on a forum, explaining how he has been missing since 23rd of September and basically appealed for help in finding him.
This is the post -
NICK NAMES: MATT OR MATTY
DOB: 12/12/1986
AGE: 20
HEIGHT: 5 FT 7
ATHLETIC BUILD APPROX 75 KG
BLEACHED BLONDE HAIR
BLUE EYES
LIVES IN CRONULLA/SUTHERLAND
EMPLOYED IN HURSTVILLE
Maybe if everyone passes this on, someone will see him. That is how the girl from Stephens Point was found by circulation of her picture on TV.
If anyone knows anything or has seen him please contact Melissa @ Sutherland Police Station
On 02 9542 0899
Additionally, there is also a link to Matt Leveson’s myspace profile.
Obviously, this is quite a legitimate appeal for aid and people are likely to respond to it with useful information or messages of support. However, I think it is quite sad that it has now started to get emailed around the world with an additional phrase of “Please pass this on to everyone you know, everyone in your address book” because that, coupled with the reference to the girl at Stephens Point, make it appear to be very similar to hoax emails that are currently around.
Hopefully you can see my point - the proliferation of such hoax missing person emails may mean that these genuine appeals for help get dismissed as being more of the same. You never know, someone, somewhere, may just have a snippet of information that could aid Matt or his family but they may not even realise that his disappearance is genuine.
The latest information about Matt Leveson is not too optimistic - police found his car abandoned on 27th September and now fear foul play.
Hey man, kinda dumbfounded here so I guess I’ll just thank you for the extra publicity.
You’re very welcome Courtenay
As a rep. of SpeakOut, a mental well-being site that is helping publicise Matt’s disappearance, I (and Courtenay) have to thank you for a bit of extra exposure, but I think you should re-think the title of the article; at first glance it appeared you were throwing Matt’s case into doubt.
Also, I refer to those emails as ‘echoes’ - emails that have long since passed their usefulness or truthfulness, but continue to ‘bounce’ around the net. I have seen missing-persons emails featuring kids from the 90s. Of course, in an ideal world people would do a little research before forwarding emails but its all too easy in today’s FW: FW: FW: world.
In conclusion, help: good, spam: bad. If people reposted this, for example, via bulletin boards rather than emails then the people who care for Matt will be very grateful.
Hi Gavin,
I think the title is good, considering the nature of this site and the type of posts I have made before - it makes it more likely that people will read it here and that, surely, is the most important thing isn’t it?
I am an Internal Co-ordinator for a large company in Sydney and was alarmed when I received the email. You, Courtenay are doing a great job! The forward was sent to all 300 employees who work in this company. I have also passed this on as you requested.
Shame on you Scam! There is a person missing and all you care about it demeening a friend who is trying to reached out the best way that he knows how! Your article did not draw attention to the matter, but rather embarrassed you as a writer!
I’m sorry you feel that way Bianca but I believe you have me all wrong -
I’m helping to publicise the fact that Matt is missing.
I’m saying missing person hoaxes detract from the real missing people cases.
I hope people don’t delete an email about Matt, thinking it is a hoax, and read it instead.
Your response has kind of made the point - you didn’t read it properly, instead assuming I was saying Matt’s disappearance was a hoax.
i got the memo about Matt through facebook, and i wanted to google him and see what the latest news is, and i must say that i too think u shud change the title beacuse at first glance it makes the whole situation seem a lil undermined and not very legit…and it cant be any further away from the truth, it just gives out the wrong vibe…
as for ur point bout reading the emails properly, we’re all used to reading (or rather skimming) emails, and all other internet stuff really fast, its just habitual, so thats why u shud take xtra care to make sure u dont have any form of ambiguity in ur articles…esp in something of such sensitive nature.
Is there any word on what happened to Matt in the end?
Last i heard was that he was still missing.
Anyone have any further updates?
Matt is still missing- I check the myspace page often in hope that one day there will be a message on there from matt himself saying he is okay.
Thanks for filling us in Tyboy - whilst Matt is still missing there is still hope..