There are four common kinds of email hoaxes:
- Fake Photos (Hands of God, sharks eating helicopters, monster cats)
- Chain Letters (threats, requests, promises of money)
- Mythical Stories, (public warnings, shocking narratives, outlandish claims)
- Outright Scams ("phishing" and phone schemes attempting to access your finances)
In all cases, your response should routinely be:
a) Be skeptical.
b) Resist the urge to click the link or forward the message.
c) Do your homework and confirm the message.
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For email stories, photos, and chain letters: do not forward the email.
Even if the nature of the email story makes it seem urgent and time-sensitive, resist the urge to forward it. As compelling as that mermaid photo or that Microsoft promise of $400 can be, take 10 minutes and confirm it first. You will save yourself embarassment in front of your savvy friends, and you will help stop the spread of damaging email rumors.
- For emails that ask you to confirm your bank or ebay identify: never respond or click the link. A legitimate bank would never ask for your identity via an email link. Instead: immediately close all browser windows, and then use either a newly-launched browser, or pick up the telephone, and check your bank personally to confirm the identity request. This kind of cautious response is very important to thwart these clever email scammers. Whenever you receive a "phishing" email (fake email attempting to lure you into giving your eBay or bank account and PIN), NEVER click on the link. These scammers are trying to lure you into typing your account number and password! (Read more about phishing scams here.)
Here are suggested places to confirm suspicious emails:
Free resources for researching/confirming an email's authenticity:
- Phishing and Email Scams (banking, eBay, Paypal)
- The Top Reported Email Hoaxes and Viruses This Month
- The Top 25 Urban Legends This Month
- Current "Netlore" Hoaxes and Myths
- The Top Fake Photos This Month
- Snopes: Scam and Phishing Schemes Report
- The Straight Dope: Search The Myth Archives
- CIAC Hoaxbusters
- "Google" the Email Subject
Next: What To Do About a Hoax Email or Phishing Email
