Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
rbattelle
TDR MEMBER
I have seen a remarkable trend in the hoaxes/scams/urban legends that I get forwarded from various people. It seems that people over about 35 believe every forwarded message they get. It's rare, on the other hand, for me to get a hoax email forwarded from people under the age of 35.
When I get one of these emails, the first thing I do is run a Google search on the email subject. This invariably, within about 3 seconds, comes up with a myth-busting website that reveals the complete lack of truth in the email, which I then email back to the message sender with a short note explaining that it's not true. The entire process takes maybe 20 seconds.
I suppose that most people think that if a trusted friend sends along a "warning" or some such that it's probably true. Well, IT'S PROBABLY NOT! Take 10 seconds to do a search, rather than falling for it hook, line, and sinker.
Example - last week I got one from a 60 year old friend that warned me not to open any emails with "Invitation" in the subject because it would contain a virus that would delete my hard drive. Completely untrue.
Another example - last month a 36 year old sent a huge group of people a forwarded warning not to buy landscaping mulch because it may contain some kind of deadly bug (or something to that effect). Completely untrue.
I must admit, however, that I get a tremendous amount of pleasure replying to these and pointing out that the person was duped. I don't get as many of them as I used to. :-laf And no one ever seems to write back and say "wow, I had no idea that was a hoax... thank's for pointing it out".
As the title says, don't believe anything you read by email.
-Ryan
When I get one of these emails, the first thing I do is run a Google search on the email subject. This invariably, within about 3 seconds, comes up with a myth-busting website that reveals the complete lack of truth in the email, which I then email back to the message sender with a short note explaining that it's not true. The entire process takes maybe 20 seconds.
I suppose that most people think that if a trusted friend sends along a "warning" or some such that it's probably true. Well, IT'S PROBABLY NOT! Take 10 seconds to do a search, rather than falling for it hook, line, and sinker.
Example - last week I got one from a 60 year old friend that warned me not to open any emails with "Invitation" in the subject because it would contain a virus that would delete my hard drive. Completely untrue.
Another example - last month a 36 year old sent a huge group of people a forwarded warning not to buy landscaping mulch because it may contain some kind of deadly bug (or something to that effect). Completely untrue.
I must admit, however, that I get a tremendous amount of pleasure replying to these and pointing out that the person was duped. I don't get as many of them as I used to. :-laf And no one ever seems to write back and say "wow, I had no idea that was a hoax... thank's for pointing it out".
As the title says, don't believe anything you read by email.
-Ryan
