Glad you asked!
Don’t be tempted to forward emails to everyone in your address book. First, check the Hoaxbusters Web site to see if your urgent message is really something important or whether it is a hoax. Just delete it, if it’s the latter.
Did you really think that something bad would happen to you if you did not forward that email to everybody? Some of the more recent versions of these letters suggest that if the message doesn’t leave your inbox in a matter of minutes, then you’ll really be in for it.
If you happen to be the recipient of a hoax letter sent by a friend, please send them a link to this page or to the Hoaxbusters Website. An educated friend is one worth keeping!
There are so many different hoaxes that it takes 13 categories to describe them all. I would bet that you have seen at least one Urban Myth and one of the Give Away Hoaxes.
The Give Away Hoaxes seem particularly popular and one is reminded of P.T.Barnum’s phrase, “There’s a sucker born every minute!” Bill Gates is not giving away his billions in a software testing scheme, nor is the Gap clothing store going to provide you with their latest fashions just for sending along their message. If it seems too good to be true, then you know you should not forward that email message!
Sophos provides information on viruses and lists the top ten latest and most prevalent hoaxes.
Another great site that cuts through the hype is Snopes. If you’re not sure about that email chain letter, check out what Snopes.com has to say.
Have you received a hoax or chain letter today? If so, just delete it!