Internet Hoaxes

Internet Hoaxes

There are a variety of hoaxes perpetuated on the Internet. The viruses alerts are quite common. If someone asks you to forward a message to everyone you know, it is probably a hoax. Such chain letters are prohibited at most organizations. They are designed to cost businesses/institutions money and to cost people time while they occupy computers all over the country.

If you are concerned about a possible virus, click here.

For a good variety of information about hoaxes, click here.

Hoaxes appear as offers for deals and money, virus alerts, and more. Do any of these sound familiar?

"He was still feeling the effects of the drugs, but looked around to see he was alone. He looked down at his chest, which had "CALL 911 OR YOU WILL DIE" written on it in lipstick...." The story says that someone stole his kidneys to sell on the black market. The story is a hoax.

"Then there's the one that about the lady who was at Mrs. Field's (or sometimes it's Neiman Marcus) who loved the chocolate chip cookies, and asked for the recipe." She was told it would cost 'two-fifty' so she said fine, charged but when she got her credit card statement it cost her $250.00. So to get back at them she is posting the recipe on the net and asks you to forward it to everyone you can think of. Neiman Marcus never served cookies in their restaurants until recently, when they developed a new chocolate chip cookie in response to this myth! (And they will give out the recipe to anyone for free!)"

"There is an e-mail that tells a story about a seven-year-old boy named Craig Shergold who was diagnosed with incurable brain tumor. As he lay dying, he wished only to have friends send him postcards." Craig is a healthy college student who does not appreciate the 20,000 cards he receives every week due to a prankster.

For the source of these quotes and more information, click here.

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