How to spot an e-mail hoax? – Guide to recognizing hoaxes

A hoax is an attempt to trick the receiver into believing that something false is real. Orson Well Mercury Theater radio broadcast in October 31, 1938, entitled “The War of the Worlds” has been called the “single greatest media hoax of all time”, though it was not intentionally so, and thus does not rank among genuine hoaxes. Hoax warnings are typically scare alerts started by malicious people and passed on by innocent users who think they are helping the community by spreading the warning. Do not forward hoax messages! (more…)