Technology Tip
Zapping Email Legends

Have you ever received a chain email like this one:
    
 
Please pass this to everyone in your address book. We have a Deli manager (Acme Markets) from Philadelphia, Pa who has a 13 year old daughter who has been missing for 2 weeks. Keep the picture moving on. With luck on her side she will be found. "I am asking you all, begging you to please forward this email . . . . "
 
    

It might look pretty convincing. You might even feel compelled to send it off to everyone you know immediately.  But before you do here's how you can check the validity an email message like this one:

1)  Highlight and copy a sentence from the email:

 

2)  Then paste that sentence into Google or any other search engine:

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3)  In the resulting search you might find lots of websites that can help you determine the validity of the email like this one:

Snopes.com
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/missing/ashleyflores.asp

NBC10.com
http://www.nbc10.com/consumeralert/9239845/detail.html

ChildAlert.org
http://www.childalert.org/hoaxes.htm

EddieOnEverything.com
http://www.eddieoneverything.com/psa/ashley-flores-isnt-missing-helpfindashleyfloresyahoocom-isnt-a-real-address.php

 

 

The next time you get a chain email use the technique explained above to check the validity of it before you forward it.  If you find out it's a hoax send an email to the person who sent it to you with links with the the real information.

TO KEEP ON LEARNING:  To learn more about hoax emails try searching the internet for:

Online Urban Legends
Snopes
Chain Emails