Return to article: How to Unmask E-mail Hoaxes
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.
on 11/22/2005 Never open any attachments until you have checked with the sender that they have indeed sent an attachment.
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.
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!!
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.
on 11/22/2005 Once the item is determined to be a hoax (via www.snopes.com, etc.), reply to the senders of these e-mails to let them know it is a hoax and direct them to snopes. This may prevent them from sending others in the future without verifying them first.
on 11/22/2005 Beware a line in the long forwarding addresses that assures you the warning is legit. Also beware notes that both Microsoft and AOL say "the virus" can't be stopped, yet you don't get e-mail from them.
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