The following is taken from this link which is no longer up. Some updating was made to the terminology to relate better to the present time.
by g8kepr
I Received a Forwarded Email/saw this on a social network - Is it Real or a Hoax?
'Share this with everyone you know!'
'This is for real! Free cash!'
If you've used email or social media for any length of time, you've probably received or seen more than your share of emails and social network reposts that have been re-shared by well-intentioned friends. You may have even seen some of the phrases above in those memes.
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 share the message 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.
Generally, most hoaxes 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 memes.
High profile companies or individuals are mentioned throughout the meme. This is done to try to establish believability. Usually you will see names like Microsoft, Norton, McAfee, Pepsi, Bill Gates, etc.
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: 'SHARE WITH 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 or social media repost.
I'm glad you asked! Yes, there are a couple of ways actually.
Internet Search - If you can't find your re-share on these resources, then do an Internet Search using some of the unique keywords from the email or post.
Try a search in Google and make sure you search for unique words that are specific to the email or post. For this example, search for the words: Pearlas Sandborn Microsoft AOL. You'll notice many results that will bring up many references to the repost. That answers the first question, it's a meme. This means it has already been re-shared so that it really isn't that special, and you don't need to replicate another copy. Among the search results, there might be those coming from sites on the resource link posted above. Clicking any of those will answer the second question, whether the meme is telling the truth or if it is a fabrication.
Although many internet hoaxes are considered harmless pranks, a good many of them are harmful if taken literally.
Remember, if you get an email forward or see a re-share on your social network, always be skeptical. The majority of them are unverifiable stories, jokes, satire, or hoaxes. Don't share them without first doing your research. If you can prove it's false, be sure inform your friend who re-shared it.
darciefrench May 15, 2011 @ 10:31 pm 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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