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I Received a Forwarded Email - Is it Real or a Hoax?

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'Forward this to everyone you know!'

'This is for real! Free cash!'

If you've used email for any length of time, you've probably received more than your share of emails that have been forwarded by well-intentioned friends. You may have even seen some of the phrases above in those emails. But how do you know if it's real or just a hoax? What if it is real? Don't you owe it to your friends to forward the message on and let them know? On the other hand, if it's fake, then is it worth taking the risk of spreading misinformation and appearing foolish?

In the following section, I'm going to show you a few tips and tricks to identify if the information is real or a hoax. Not only will you save yourself a bit of embarrassment, but you'll also avoid irritating people unnecessarily.

Table of Contents

  1. Common Traits in an Email Hoax
  2. Is There Any Way to Specifically Identify The Email as a Hoax?
  3. In Conclusion
  4. Great deals from Amazon!
  5. Comments

Common Traits in an Email Hoax


Sample Hoax Email
Figure 1 - Sample Hoax Email (click to enlarge)


Generally, most email forwards share the same identifying traits which should serve as clear warning signs. If you look for the following traits, you'll easily identify most fraudulent emails.

  • High profile companies or individuals are mentioned throughout the email. This is done to try to establish believability. Usually you will see names like Microsoft, Norton, McAfee, Pepsi, Bill Gates, etc. (See Figure 1)

  • Referencing non-existent 'friends' who are attorneys, doctors, etc. to verify that the claim is true. This is also used to make the hoax seem more believable.


  • Statements like: 'FORWARD TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!' or 'THIS IS FOR REAL!!'. This is used to help propagate the
    hoax and to establish a sense of urgency. These statements are usually in all CAPS with exclamation points.

  • If it sounds too good to be true... Most claims are so far-fetched that it should be obvious that it isn't quite right. Always be skeptical of any forwarded email.

Is There Any Way to Specifically Identify The Email as a Hoax?

I'm glad you asked! Yes, there are a couple of ways actually.

  • Snopes.com
    - This highly reputable website actually keeps a list of email hoaxes and provides detailed information about when the email started circulating and if it's true or false.

  • Internet Search - If you can't find your email on Snopes, then do an Internet Search using some of the unique keywords from the email.

    For example, let's use the email from Figure 1:

    Try a search in Google and make sure you search for unique words that are specific to the email. For this example, search for the words: Pearlas Sandborn Microsoft AOL. You'll notice many results that will bring up many references to the email, with Snopes being at or near the top.


Click Here for a Demonstration

In Conclusion

Although most email hoaxes are just harmless pranks, many of them are harmful if taken literally.

Remember, if you get an email forward, always be skeptical. The majority of email forwards are hoaxes. Don't forward them on to anyone else without first doing your research. If you can prove it's false, be sure inform your friend that sent it to you.

Great deals from Amazon!

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Comments

  • MaryAnn Little Jul 18, 2011 @ 3:53 pm | delete
    This is great information. I always look like a fool because I fall for all the email hoaxes! Thanks!
  • JoshK47 Jun 18, 2011 @ 3:46 pm | delete
    Great tips for those who aren't in-the-know!
  • darciefrench May 15, 2011 @ 10:31 pm | delete
    This is important information about how to tell if an email is a hoax. I remember in the 'early days' of the internet, phony emails were rampant.
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