Next on Salto:

A prankster finds a new low-level hire at Starbucks Corporate and proceeds to impersonate the Starbucks CEO by email. The prankster issues commands to the new hire, beginning with a command for the new hire to shave his goatee. The guy does it. Emboldened, the prankster gets ... creative.

The whole thing is here, including full texts of emails. It's astonishing.

Here's an outstanding example:

Date: Weds, 27 Oct 2004 10:47:28 -0700 (PDT)
From: "Orin C. Smith" |
To: rxxxxxxxxxx@starbucks.com
Subject: Re: Welcome to Starbucks

I understand how difficult moving is. As for what I told you to do earlier, we'll try it again shortly. I don't want to raise suspicions so let's give it a few days.

There is something else you could do for me. There is a Starbucks on 5th and King that I sometimes go to on the weekend since it's near my house. The service is usually really good but last time I was there I noticed this very, very heavyset girl behind the counter. I don't know the girl's name but she was quite repulsive to the eye. Obviously, as CEO I can't just walk into a Starbucks and start firing baristas and service people because I don't like the way they look, but this girl should not be allowed near scones, if you know what I mean.

I don't know if you want to earn a little extra money this weekend but I'd like you to go there, have a look around and see if you can find out which girl it is. She needs to be terminated. I want the fat girl gone. Let me know when this is completed.

Thank you,,

Orin C. Smith
President, Chief Executive Officer
Starbucks Corp.

Read all of them.