Situation
You have received a forwarded e-mail from a friend with a story in it that warns you about doing or not doing a specific action. Should you believe it and continue forwarding the warning to other friends?
Here’s a typical example of a forwarded e-mail story you might receive:
“URGENT NEWS
New from Ampang Gleneagles Hospital Important news to pass it on ! Please spend 1 minute and read on…News from Gleneagles Hospital (Ampang) URGENT !!!! from Gleneagles Hospital Limited
Seven women have died after inhaling a free perfume sample that was mailed to them. The product was poisonous. If you receive free samples in the mail such as lotions, perfumes, diapers etc. throw them away. The government is afraid that this might be another terrorist act. They will not announce it on the news because they do not want to create panic or give the terrorists new ideas. Send this to all your friends and family members…
Gleneagles Hospital Limited
Human Resources Department”
What to do:
- Go to the web site for Snopes by typing the web address in the address bar of your browser: www.snopes.com
- In the Search box on snopes.com, type a few of the important words from the e-mail story. For the above example, for instance, type, “poisoned perfume samples.”
- Snopes.com will return search results showing various similar story links, IF the urban legend is known to Snopes or reported to them.
- Click on the appropriate link to see details and if the legend is true or not. For the above example, you will see a large FALSE on Snopes plus variations of the story plus the Origins of the story.
Snopes also has other information links related to urban legends or misinformation.
Horizontal Links:- What’s New – Lists recent additions and updates to snopes.com
- Randomizer – Snopes picks random information to display.
- Hot 25 – Snopes compiles the 25 urban legends currently circulating most widely.
- FAQ – Displays frequently asked questions about snopes.com
- Odd News – This features a daily collection of links to news articles and web sites of interest to readers.
- Glossary – Provides definitions for a number of terms one might be unfamiliar with
- Newsletter – Provides a form one can use to subscribe to a free update newsletter
- Message Board – Anyone can post a message here related to something on the web site.
Vertical Links Home Page:
- Top Scams – Lists several pervasive forms of scams.
- Snopes.com in the Press – Shows links to news articles about Snopes.
- About snopes.com – Explains the history and background of snopes.com.
Other Suggestions
- Add www.snopes.com as a Favorite in your computer browser.
- Other fact-checking sites to look at:
FactCheck.org
TruthorFiction.com
HoaxSlayer.com
Situation/Example
You have received an e-mail from a purported “financial institution” stating there is an error or other information needed for your account, asking you to log into your account.
“Dear Bank of America customer,
During our regularly scheduled account maintenance and verification procedures, we have detected a slight error in your billing information.
This might be due to either of the following reasons:
1. A recent change in your personal information ( i.e.,change of address).
2. Submitting invalid information during the initial sign up process.
3. An inability to accurately verify your selected option of payment due to an internal error within our processors.
Please update and verify your information by clicking the link below:
https://update.bankofamerica.com/
If your account information is not updated within 24 hours then your ability to access your account will become restricted.
Thank you
The Bank of America Billing Department
Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender | |
What to do:
- NEVER LOG INTO YOUR ACCOUNT OR DO ANYTHING ASKED! Most of the time this is a scam e-mail to get your personal information.
OR
- Call your bank or other financial institution and ask them if they sent the e-mail.
