Here are some quick tips for spotting e-mail lies.
The most important tip: Use common sense!
Would you believe it if it came from anywhere OTHER than an e-mail? No? Then don't believe it just because someone e-mailed it to you.
What's the source?
Most e-mail lies are anonymous. Yes, you may know the person who passed it along to you, but is there a source quoted? Even if there is, is it someone, or some organization, that would be likely to use this sort of e-mail dissemination to get the word out? If the alleged source is a well-known company like IBM or CNN, have you gone to that company's Web site and searched for the person's name to verify their identity?
Grammar, spelling, and punctuation
Many e-mail lies have numerous errors. A genuine statement of any sort would likely be made by a public relations professional who will make sure that proper English is used; it would be a poor reflection on the company not to do so!
ALL CAPS
Many e-mail lies are written in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. Again, no public relations professional would do such a thing. It is considered rude to do so online, and studies have shown that text in all caps is much harder to read (notice that you never see newspaper articles, for example, that way).
Forward it to everyone!
Statements like "send this to everyone you know" are a hallmark of e-mail lies. Again, reputable sources do not need to do this sort of thing to get the word out.
Forward it to everyone, and you'll get money!
Forwarded e-mail cannot be consistently or reliably tracked (here's why). NO ONE can tell for sure whether you've forwarded their e-mail, so they can't know whether you qualify for their alleged reward. If the e-mail says you will get money or anything else for forwarding it, you know immediately that it is a lie, without going any further.
Why did you have to get this information in this manner?
Ask yourself: If this information were true, wouldn't I have heard about it in the news media?
If you're not sure whether the e-mail you received is a lie:
Don't trust it just because it came from someone you know and/or trust otherwise. For example, we've dealt with cases where computer professionals have spread lies about viruses. And we hope you get along with your family, but do take a moment to ask yourself whether your brother or sister or mom or whoever qualifies as an expert on the subject at hand! Do they really have firsthand knowledge? Or did they get it from someone who got it from someone who...
Check it here. Go to our links page for resources you can use
to check that e-mail out.
If you DID receive a lie...
DON'T FORWARD IT! Instead, go to our what to do page for suggestions on how to deal with it.
PrayerTower.net
offers more advice on spotting e-mail lies, from a Christian point of view.
