Teaching for Information Literacy

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.

Shark Attacks Helicopter