How to Unmask E-mail Hoaxes

By eHow Internet Editor

Rate: (0 Ratings)

Is that virus alert real? Will forwarding a message you've received really fund cancer research? Should women really worry about two-way mirrors in dressing rooms? Before you send the latest e-mail warning to your 50 closest friends, learn to spot e-mail hoaxes by following these guidelines.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

Step1
Use common sense when reading e-mail warnings. Determine if the warning is logically feasible before forwarding the message.
Step2
Look for specific facts such as names, dates and locations. If this information is absent, you're probably dealing with a hoax. If you find any, a quick Internet search should help you determine the veracity of the story.
Step3
Check computer virus Web sites if you receive a virus warning. Many sites offer up-to-date information about currently circulating viruses and virus hoaxes.
Step4
Visit and search Web sites and message boards dealing with urban legends for information pertaining to the e-mail at hand.
Step5
Check newspapers and television news programs to see if the story is being covered by non-Internet media. The print and television press are just as fast and much more reliable than e-mail.

Tips & Warnings

  • E-mail messages that claim to employ "tracking software" are never true. You won't help any sick children or receive $1,000 from Bill Gates just for forwarding a message.

Comments

| View All Comments
Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

on 11/22/2005 Here's an idea! For people with Hotmail who've been sending a letter around saying it will shut down, it helps to look at the Hotmail home page and read that it says: Hotmail is not shutting down and they only inform customers directly!! Geesh!!

Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

on 11/22/2005 If it says in any way, "This is a true story no matter how crazy it seems," it probably isn't.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

on 3/2/2006 Time after time the news media is sucked into hoaxes. They are your worst source for good information. Keep your eye on well known virus software sites, they make their living being right about virus warnings.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

on 11/22/2005 Never open any attachments until you have checked with the sender that they have indeed sent an attachment.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

Flag This Comment

on 11/22/2005 Virus warnings don't usually come from Microsoft, Intel, AMD or AOL. Real ones come from SARC (http://www.sarc.com) or McAfee. SARC also maintains a list of hoax virii.

View All

Post a Comment

POST A COMMENT

Request a New How-To Article

Looking for more How To information? Chances are there’s an eHow member who knows how to do what you’re looking to do. Submit an article request now!

eHow Article:  How to Unmask E-mail Hoaxes

eHow Internet Editor

eHow Internet Editor

Category: Internet

Articles: See my other articles

Related Ads

Internet

Veesites
Meet Virginia DeBolt eHow’s Internet Expert.