Email hoaxes
Internet hoaxes are email messages that attempt to get you to forward the message to everyone you know, to send money, or to visit a Web site. Such messages should not be forwarded.
Hoax sites
The following sites are useful for determining if a given message is a hoax.
- Hoaxbusters - comprehensive listing of internet hoaxes
- Snopes - another comprehensive listing of internet hoaxes
- Listing of other hoax sites
Examples of common hoaxes
Email hoaxes often take the form of chain letters, sympathy letters, or threats. Examples are included below in attempts to help you recognize hoaxes. Do not forward this type of message.
Fake sympathy request
Hello. My name is Tamara Martin and I have severe lung and throat cancer due to second hand smoke. This chain was a final attempt to help solve my problem. For every one person that this letter is sent to, the national lung and cancer association will donate 6 cents to help me and other people like me become healthy again. If you do not pass this letter on, my life and memory will soon both be gone. So please, try to send this to at least 10 people. It is for a good cause. (By the way, be sure one of the people you send it to is "Cool12@AOL.COM" as he keeps track of the names that have passed this along.) I give my blessing to those who pass this along. To those too selfish to take 2 minutes to do this, what goes around comes around. Thank you.
Fake threat
I REALLY DONT BELIEVE IT BUT SENDING IT TO YALL JUST IN CASE!!!!
This is not a joke...if you do not forward this e-mail to 20 other
people............. your computer will be a living hell thanks to one of
our very own little ingenious viruses. I repeat this is not a joke this virus
will come to you only a week after you open this piece of mail in a very
indiscreet e-mail If you open this e-mail after opening others, it just
might come as a letter from your "buddy" Watch out! You have one week..
starting now. If this virus gets in it won't come back out. It will slowly
delete 1 file a day from system IRQ files, startup files and win 95
kernels for registry address {1593338-489h985}
Fake virus warning
If you receive an email titled "WIN A HOLIDAY" DO NOT open it. It will erase everything on your hard drive. Forward this letter out as many people as you can. This is a new, very malicious virus and not many people know about it. This information was announced yesterday morning from Microsoft; please share it with everyone that might access the Internet. Once again, pass this along to EVERYONE in our address book so that this may be stopped. Also, do not open or even look at any mail that says "RETURNED OR UNABLE TO DELIVER" This virus will attach itself to your computer components and render them useless. Immediately delete any mail items that say this. AOL has said that this is a very dangerous virus and that there is NO remedy for it at this time. Please practice cautionary measures and forward this to all your online friends ASAP.
Fake results from forwarding
OK here's the deal, this works. I don't know how...but it works, you have to send this to no less than 11 people. Somehow, from the return path generated, you'll receive...something, and it is funny!!!! This is the coolest thing I've ever gotten! All you have to do is send it to 11 people and this little video comes up on your screen and shows the funniest clip. I can't tell you what it is, but i was laughing so hard! So spend a few seconds to send this and you'll be glad you did! thanks!
Fake giveaway
FROM: GatesBeta@microsoft.com ATTACH: Tracklog@microsoft.com/Track883432/~TraceActive/On.html Hello Everyone, And thank you for signing up for my Beta Email Tracking Application or (BETA) for short. My name is Bill Gates. Here at Microsoft we have just compiled an email tracing program that tracks everyone to whom this message is forwarded to. It does this through a unique IP (Internet Protocol) address log book database. We are experimenting with this and need your help. Forward this to everyone you know and if it reaches 1000 people everyone on the list you will receive $1000 and a copy of Windows98 at my expense. Enjoy. Your friend, Bill Gates & The Microsoft Development Team.
