March - 13 - 2009 - Internet Hoaxes

Anyone with an email address has inevitably been the unwitting recipient of an email hoax. Internet hoaxes are an unfortunate commonality these days, and they come in an overwhelming number of different forms. There are chain letters, phishing expeditions, internet scams, viruses hoaxes, actual viruses, spyware and forwarded messages full of false hype. Some of these hoaxes are transparent, but others are insidiously elusive and have made victims of intelligent people. Some scams are an attempt to spread viruses, while others are looking to con individuals out of money or personal information. Some hoaxes are simply intended to spread propaganda and misinformation. Here is a listing of several different hoaxes perpetuated through emails, which fit those categories.

Viruses and Spyware

• Protecting Yourself form Viruses and Malware

• Dangerous Email Viruses

• Common Email Viruses

• Computer Security

• What Is Spyware?
  

Virus Hoaxes

• Virus Hoaxes and Realities

• McAfee—Virus Hoaxes

• Viruses in Chain Mail

• Listing of Hoaxes
  

Chain Mail

• Info on chain letters and SPAM

• Chain Mail Laws

• Chain Letters

• Chain Letter Hoaxes
  

Phising and Payment Processing Scams

• Microsoft.com Recognizing Phishing Scams

• Recognizing Phishing Scams

• Identity Theft and Phishing Resource

• Internet Scam and Virus Information
  

Email Scams

• Fraud Email

• Fraud and Online Scam Forums

• Nigerian Email Scams

• Common Internet Frauds

• Junk Email and Misinformation
  

Propaganda

• Truth or Fiction

• Bad Advice, Celebrity Gossip, Missing children and other email lies

• Cancer Related Email Lies

• The Jessica Mydek Story
  

Some basic tips for avoiding hoaxes, viruses and scams, is to remain guarded with your email address and skeptical of any unsolicited mail. Be particularly aware of any emails which are urgent, offering money or opportunities, or those which are overly colloquial for an address you don't recognize. Always conduct the appropriate research before responding to any email which carries any nuance of spam or fraud. As with many things in life, in the case of protecting yourself from hoaxes and viruses, diligence is the best defense.