“Informed emails”

We’ve all done it. We’ve gotten an “urgent” email that we quickly pass on to everyone in our address book because it’s a message about a horrible crime, or a new scam, free coupons, or even deliberate discrimination against African-Americans by a large corporation. Little did we know, what we thought was “true” was nothing more than an urban legend in an electronic form.

These urban legends have been circulating around the internet for years. Sometimes they die out only to resurface in a different form. Maybe the name of the corporation has changed or the type of scam is modified, but they are all the same – nasty rumors that fill email accounts. How can you stop this? It’s simple. The next time you get an email that’s an urgent forward from AT&T or Applebee’s or even The Tom Joyner Show, Google it. Yes, that’s right. You can Google it. In less than 30 seconds, you can know whether the email is true and worth forwarding or if it’s nothing more than worthless spam sent by an unsuspecting, reliable source (usually a good friend). Another option is to visit www.Snopes.com where you can quickly determine whether there was yet another horrible crime at a well known nightclub or whether the newest scam is really a scam. In fact, Snopes.com lists the top 25 Hottest Urban Legends ranging from the ATM Reverse Pin Panic Code (now, this is a great idea) to Jury Duty Scams. Or you could check out www.breakthechain.org. It allows you to browse the most recent junk emails that are circulating or even submit one that you want broken.

Whatever you do, the next time you get an urgent email forward about corporate scandals or ingenious ways to stop thieves, take a few seconds and make sure it’s true before you forward it to everyone in your address book. I promise you they’ll thank you. I know I will.