Avoiding Email Scams

Most likely, you don’t need to be told all the benefits of the Internet. You’ve grown up with it, and you can probably navigate through cyberspace with a lot more ease than your parent’s generation. However, you must realize that the Internet is an ever-changing medium that will continue to break ground but also prey on its users.

Especially in regard to e-mail, use common sense to steer away from scams and other hoaxes.

1. Be skeptical if the message requires you to pass it along to your friends. Never forward a message unless you know the sender.

2. Warnings without the name of the person sending the original notice are probably hoaxes.

3. There are two known factors that make a successful virus hoax, they are:
   1) technical sounding language, and
   2) credibility by association. (for example, Bill Gates and Microsoft).

4. Don't respond to bulk emails. Be skeptical of offers that use LOTS OF CAPITAL LETTERS and punctuation!!! E-mails that shout at you are often fake, such as "Discover how you can make BIG $$$$$ MONEY in NO TIME AT ALL!!!!!"

5. There is no such thing as an e-mail tracking service. This is simply a scam to retrieve your e-mail address and sell it as part of a mailing list to companies.

6. Big companies don't have Hotmail or Yahoo! e-mail accounts.

7. Be skeptical if you're told that you have won a prize. If you are told you have won a prize and have to pay money, always refuse the prize.

8. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is.

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