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Internet Hoaxes & Legends
There are so many rumors floating around on the Internet. How do you know which are the ones to believe, and which are the hoaxes?
You receive an email that tells you that Gerber lost a lawsuit and now has to give the parents of every child born between 1985 and 1997 a $500 savings bond. Another email says that Microsoft and AOL have merged and are now rewarding with money if you help test an e-mail tracking system. You might have even received an email telling you how to check your computer to see your Windows 95, Windows 98 and Windows NT system is Y2K compliant. With all the junk emails floating around, how do you determine which is authentic?
What are the characteristics of most Internet Hoaxes?
There are a few ways to recognize if there is truth to the message:
- Most Internet hoaxes are successful because they combine an important message with technical sounding language.
- Most hoaxes are believable because they're supposedly sent from the president of a company, or someone important.
- If an email asks you to "pass it on to your friends", it should alert you to its false credibility.
What should you do if you receive a warning or Internet Hoax?
The first thing you shouldn't do is pass it on:
- You should search one of the recommended sites below to find out if there's truth to it.
- If you receive a warning of an Internet virus, check out one of the anti-virus companies to see if they have information on it. If there's truth to it, they'll know about it.
- Most chain letters include some message to catch your interest, a threat meant to scare, and almost always ask you to do something (for instance forwarding the message to many people). If you receive a chain letter, forward it directly to your Internet Service Provider and let them check on the validity. It is illegal to send chain letters, and if you follow through with the request you are contributing to this act.
- You cannot generate a computer virus by simply opening an email. The only way your computer can get a virus is if you download an attachment that contains one. UPDATE: New email virus is circulating that appears to do damage without even being opened. Click here for more information! To be safe, do not download anything from anyone you do not know! The safest thing to do is to delete any emails unless you know the sender.
Internet Hoax Trivia
Can you identify which one of the following email subjects are real and which are hoaxes? Answers are at the bottom of the page.
1. You receive an email that tells you update your computers for the year 2000 or your Microsoft programs won't run. Real or Hoax?
2. In response to a merger between Hewlett-Packard and Gateway, IBM asks you to forward an email to at least 15 friends, and then they will give you a free computer. Real or Hoax?
3. A new bill in US Congress will be affecting all Internet users by deciding whether to allow or not allow a charge to your phone bill each time you access the internet. Real or Hoax?
4. Some proceeds from stamp sales will go towards breast cancer research. Real or Hoax?
5. Prisoners get residential phone customers to make long-distance phone calls for them by pretending to be phone company employees and asking customers to press the 9, 0, and # keys and then hang up. Real or Hoax?
Below are some Internet sites & informative books where you can find more information on this topic:
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