Evaluating email
How to recognize an email hoax
The following five scenarios describe most email hoaxes:
- A warning of a new virus that you should send on to everyone you know.
- A warning of a scam that you should send on to everyone you know.
- A petition to help the needy or some cause that wants you to foward it on to those who might be interested.
- A get-rich-quick scheme that claims if you forward on the message you'll receive money for each time it's forwarded.
- A claim that for each email sent someone in need will be helped by another organization.
Good email practices include:
- don't open files from strangers or files that you aren't
- expecting, don't give out your email or IM address or personal
- information, don't reply to spam,
- delete junk e-mails messages without opening them,
- don't forward chain e-mail messages,
- don't buy things advertised through email.
Tips for dealing with email hoaxes and to avoid viruses.
Snopes the best source for factual information about rumors
Truth or Fiction.com - your email reality check
Hoax-Slayer is dedicated to debunking email hoaxes, thwarting Internet scammers, combating spam, and educating web users about email and Internet security issues.
Lesson Plan: Don't be fooled by a photograph from National Geographic
In this lesson, students will study images that we altered digitally, to create a desired effect. Students will discuss how a photograph conveys information, and how changing that photograph can change its message. This lesson plan is based on the National Geographic News story, "Shark 'Photo of the Year' Is E-Mail Hoax," which covers an urban legend based on a doctored photograph.