With the internet and email providing a free, viral platform for online scammers, hackers and cyber criminals, there’s no doubt that at some point you’ll receive an email hoax. some are harmless, but many can lead to virus infections, identity theft or worse. Here are some common themes to watch out for:

• Supposedly free giveaways in exchange for forwarding emails
• Bogus virus alerts
• False appeals to help sick children
• Pointless petitions that lead nowhere and accomplish nothing
• Dire, and completely fictional, warnings about products, companies, government policies or coming events

Probably the most common indicator that an email is a hoax is the “Send this email to everyone in your address book” request. Hoax writers want their material to be spread as far and wide as possible, so almost every hoax email will have this request built into the message. In some cases, email hoaxes will even give you a specific number of people to send the message to in order to collect a prize or get something for free.

Another surefire indicator that an email is a hoax is that they don’t provide a check-able reference to back up their claims. Genuine competitions, promotions, giveaways or charity drives will almost always provide a link to a company website or publication. Real virus warnings should only come from your installed anti-virus software. Emails containing government  or company policy information are likely to include references to check-able sources such as news articles, websites or other publications.

A third indicator is often the actual language used. Email hoax writers have a tendency to use an emotive, “over-the-top” style of writing peppered with words and phrases such as “Urgent,”, “Danger,” “Worse virus ever,” and so on. Another indication is that these messages contain ALL CAPITAL LETTERS for added emphasis. When in doubt, don’t forward the message or take the action requested.

If you are ever in doubt, feel free to consult with Total Networks, and we can investigate the email and confirm for you whether it is legitimate or spam.