Don't believe everything you read. Hoaxes can appear in many different forms, including marketing hoaxes, urban legends and Internet hoaxes. This pages gives some suggestions on how to check out a hoax.

• In today's society, there are many different types of hoaxes to look out for. The purpose of these hoaxes vary - some are scams designed to rob you of your money, while others were created just for fun. One day a year it's even considered appropriate to attempt to pull of a harmless hoax. Regardless of the scale and intention of a hoax, you still don't want to look like a fool for not catching it. This pages provides some information for how to check out a hoax.

(Creative Commons photo by jeeked)

• While different hoaxes have different characteristics, there are some common attributes that can help you recognize a hoax. Not all of these attributes apply to all hoaxes, however, and sometimes, a true, but unusual story can share some attributes with a hoax.

1. Is it too good/unbelievable to be true? Listen to your gut. If the gut reaction is that the story is either too good or just too sensational to be true, chances are it probably is.
2. Is it covered in major news media? If something really sensational has happened, it would be covered in major news outlets. A story that is only circulating on dubious Internet sites is probably not true.
3. Do the outlets that report on the topic quote any named sources? Major news media frequently use anonymous sources to be able to find out and report on issues that no one want to speak openly about. But if a marketing flier or questionable source, for example, don't name any sources, chances are, there are none.
4. What is the source reporting on the topic? Research the reputation of the publication or Web site. Some publications are known for fabricating stories to sell issues. Find out if the source has made up stories in the past.

• Sometimes, a hoax is designed to rob you of your money. This section refers to such hoaxes circulating on the Internet, although any of the other hoaxes can also appear online. Internet hoaxes appear in several forms, including e-mail scams and fraudulent Web sites. There are also many variations on the different forms of scams. This section can only provide some general guide lines to check out an Internet hoax. There are many Web sites designed specifically for this topic. Not all Internet hoaxes will follow these characteristics, as scammers are becoming increasingly creative.

1. Internet hoaxes often ask for money to be sent in money orders.
2. They often ask for money in unreasonable circumstances, such as e-mails claiming that you have won a lottery or other versions of this that promises you a great payoff of money, if you first wire money.
3. They often ask you to be discrete or secretive about the information/request.
4. They can also appear in the form of links that results in the downloading of malicious software or viruses to your computer. Never click on links in emails from senders you don't know.
5. Internet scams are well aware of trends and are often created based on what people search for.

• Some hoaxes appear in the form of urban legends. If you are familiar with common urban legends, you are less likely to be a target of these.

1. Many Web sites list common urban legends. There are also books devoted to this topic.
2. If you feel like you heard a story before, chances are you probably have. Many urban legends circulate for years.

• Some hoaxes are designed to sell products. These hoaxes grossly overestimate or make up benefits a certain product has in order to make profits.

1. Check out customer reviews on independent Web sites to see if they support the claims.
2. Does independent research support the claims? While you likely don't have the time to research scientific studies, do a search on Google News or Yahoo News to see if news articles cover the benefits of the product or its ingredients.
3. If the product claims health or medical benefits, ask your doctor for his or her opinion.

• Different hoaxes have different characteristics, but they often share common attributes. However, some creators of hoaxes continue to re-design them in new packages to avoid being caught. Always be aware of the potential of hoaxes when you shop for products or surf the Internet.

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