Urban Legend and Virus Hoax Links

I have been checking out many of these claims for some time and returning the emails to the senders with the links to the "debunking" of the myths and email urban legends most of the time, or the information that the claims are true. In that time, I have found numerous sites whose sole purpose is to inform the public of the glut of misinformation out there. This page contains links to some of the best. If you have a favorite that isn't listed, let me know. (You can also browse any of the sites. Some of those Urban Legends that you haven't heard about, yet, are VERY interesting!)

Skip the intro. Go directly to the links!

Background

All email users, casual and professional, are no doubt aware that there are a bunch of emails out there forwarded from and to friends and acquaintances that are untrue. Most of them urge the recipient to pass it on, usually with a phrase similar to the following:

Many "promise you the world", "something for nothing", or that you will "see something special" if you forward them on to "at least five friends". While there are plenty of legitimate offers for very little (some just for loss of some of your privacy by signing up to receive offers from the site and their affiliates) out there in internet-land, most everyone is very aware of the US policies concerning SPAM, and would not be so blatantly stupid as to put their "eggs" into the basket of forwarded emails, especially since so many people dislike receiving what amounts to advertisements with tens or hundreds of "forwarding headers" from prior recipients.

Others contain dire warnings about viruses and security threats. Again, most urge the recipient to forward the warning to friends, acquaintances, and/or "EVERYONE IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK." Often, these emails contain links to legitimate sites (Microsoft, CNN, Symantec, McAfee, among others) making them appear to be valid. FYI: I would not be surprised if one day, an unscrupulous person sends a timed virus out under the guise of a warning like this! Other times, the recipient is "informed" that emails from certain national businesses contain viruses, urging them to immediately delete anything from these businesses, which usually turns out to be advertising offers for which the recipient of the threat has signed up to receive.

Still others warn the recipient of unconscionable acts performed by these businesses (for example, not keeping jobs available for those in the armed services who have been shipped overseas, not keeping their word about an advertised fact, etc.) To me, these appear to be originated by disgruntled employees or rival businesses, though you would never get the latter to admit to that!

Quite often, these emails contain A LOT of capitalization, not just to emphasize a word or two, but on full phrases and sentences that contain dire warnings, threats and urges for you to pass them on to "...ALL YOUR FRIENDS..." or "...EVERYONE IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK...", though I've noticed that, as with the above example, it appears that someone has retyped or cleaned up the message so this isn't always the case, anymore.

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Suggestions

1. Check them out! (see links, below)
2. If you feel you MUST forward them on, see my suggestions, below, and my suggestions about Forwarding Email Etiquette.

If you are going to verify a scam, story or urban legend,

A couple of emails I got say "Verified as true on Snopes.com", but didn't provide the link. I, personally, have received a few emails where the subject was "verified" either at Snopes, truth or fiction, an anti-virus site, etc., and it turns out to be UNtrue.

Providing the link (especially to Snopes or Truth or Fiction) allows the receiving party to, at the VERY least, "pop" directly to the "proof", and see for themselves. For those who only want to know "true" or "false", for example on Snopes, at the very top of the page, it has:

For those that want to know more (and all SHOULD, especially about scams), Snopes then "shows their work", and discusses the whys and wherefores of how they went about the research, and/or what causes them to set the status as they did. The discussion normally points out various reasons to believe or disbelieve the story.

Take the time to actually READ the Snopes article.

They almost always discuss the item in question and provide insight into why and how the scams work or urban legends are believed.

They sometimes provide links to other (similar) emails/items, and sometimes to government/company publications on the web where the item is proved/refuted.

If you are more interested in finding from which books they got some of the information in their article, they normally provide a bibliography.

Snopes' site also includes a discussion board, where members enter the text of emails in question, then discuss them, sometimes in humorous ways.

And, you can also get on their mailing list, which provides a once-a-week or so update on new and old urban legends.

What started as a site where you could find proof that an Urban Legend was true or false, now includes a lot of other types of emails (virus hoaxes, scams/fraud, simple statements, etc.) AND, besides all this, they keep all their pages, including their research notes (as described, above.)

Some of the things people believe are true, or want to know whether they are or not are... unbelievable.

See why I like Snopes?

Now, on with the links!

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LINKS Section

Urban Legends
[ie: Questionable Claims]

Too good to be true... Too dangerous to be true..., Too stupid to be true... you get the idea.

• Urban Legend Reference Pages (aka Snopes) Off Site New Window
  • Direct to Snopes' search page Off Site New Window

  As I said on my Scams, Shams, and More Flim-Flams home page, one of my favorite "first stops".
   

• RumorMill.info -
  "... written by Steven Dahlman, a former radio and print journalist who now develops software in Minneapolis. ... These sites research claims made by email sent to real people. It must be certain that someone actually received the email recently, and it’s not just floating around on the Internet from years gone by." While this site doesn't have the extensive database of Urban Legends that Snopes does, they call parties involved, and write the articles as if they are to appear in a newspaper, news magazine or news show on television or radio. (Makes sense, since Dahlman "has been News Director for three radio stations and was a reporter/anchor for others. For many years he was a regular contributor of news stories and feature material to ABC Radio etworks." He is also responsible for the "Email from Colonel Zuba" website, which lists and monitors Nigerian Scams and Scammers. (See OFPv2/SSFF - Scams - Nigerian Scam for more.)
   
• Hoax-Slayer
  Covers a lot of the hoax emails we all receive - Urban Legends, Virus Hoaxes, Phishing Scams, etc. Wait - A COMPETITOR to MY pages? May be, but remember... I'm mostly providing links to the debunking, and providing my own comments... He's doing it. You can sign up for a free monthly newsletter about the latest hoaxes going around.
  • Go directly to the search page.
     
• BreakTheChain.org
  Another very good site. In some cases quoting Snopes (above) and others, this site is dedicated to educating the public "... about the shortcomings of e-mail chain letters as a means to distribute information and to empower them to make informed, logical decisions about the information they distribute." It's goal "... is to reduce the number of people who routinely forward e-mail chain letters without questioning their validity or long-term impact and to encourage e-mail users to look not only at the facts in the messages they receive and send, but also to pay attention to how those facts are presented and recognize the limitations of e-mail as an information tool." Not as "humorous" as snopes, but just as well researched and informative.
  • Go directly to the search page.
     
• TruthorFiction.com
  "...where Internet users can quickly and easily get information about eRumors, warnings, offers, requests for help, myths, hoaxes, virus warnings, and humorous or inspirational stories that are circulated by email." If you can't find it on Snopes, maybe it's here. Rich Buhler, the founder and operator, is "a broadcaster, speaker, author, and producer who has researched and written about rumors and urban legends for more than 30 years." He is as thorough as the Mikkelsons, but descriptions are a bit "drier" and shorter.
  • Go directly to the search page.
     
• About.com - Urban Legends and Folklore - One of the many About.com categories, this site's host, David Emery, "is a writer and an avid chronicler of urban folklore, with a special interest in the lore and folklife of the Internet." Another great site. While there's no specific "search page" each page has a search-box link at the top of it, allowing you to search the topic or all of About.com.
   
• UrbanLegends.com - One of the originals, at one time I thought it was the best. It had the full text of the legend, and if I remember correctly, a good analysis of each. It now contains a list of urban legends in alphabetical order by "title", each of which contains the urban legend and, sometimes, a paragraph or two telling the reader if it is true or not. You will get minimal information about the legend's background, here. You can use the search box at the top of each page, but, be warned that besides any links to the site, it will also ask if you want to search for the phrase on eBay.
   
• Urban Legends Research Centre - An Australian site, showing that Urban Legends are a worldwide phenomenon, especially now that the internet is so wide-spread. This site has a slightly irreverent host (Murray "Redman Lucas" Wells), who apparently in late 2003, went through a divorce, partially because of the time he spent on the site. He's keeping the research that he already did up, though, and, since Urban Legends tend to be cyclic in nature (one makes the rounds, and a year or two later, seems to be making the rounds again, and a year or two later... you get the idea), there's still a lot of good information on the site. He stated that he may activate it again at some point, and will keep it going as long as he can afford it. (Get it while it's hot!) A search box is available at the top of each page.
   
• Scambusters
  "How to Protect Yourself From Clever Scammers -- Online and Offline. Internet ScamBusters, the #1 publication on Internet fraud, shows you the ins and outs of protecting yourself from all the newest scams. It's a public service, published 2 to 4 times a month, and provides you with a lively, entertaining and opinionated approach to protecting yourself online and offline." - Worth a look. The actual articles are below the box advertising their newsletter. A GOOGLE search box for the site and the web is at the bottom of each page.
  • Direct to ScamBusters' Urban Legends Page - Don't Believe Everything You Read - "Internet ScamBusters Urban Legends and Hoaxes Resource Center lets you quickly find out whether popular (and usually 'urgent') emails are true -- or whether they are urban legends or hoaxes." - A listing of some of the more popular email urban legends.
     
• Lies, Damn Lies & ICQ Messages
  Apparently started when all those ICQ messages started coming through informing us that ICQ was going to start charging for their "free" service, this site has grown to include much more. Still more specifically ICQ-oriented, the author has "branched out" to include information about some of his "favorite" urban legend and hoax emails. "The purpose of this site is to combat disinformation with the most powerful weapon of all: the truth. Here you will find archives of past and current rumors, tips for protecting yourself from malicious attacks, thoughts about the future of Mirabilis and links to other resources. In addition to providing you with some useful information, I also hope to entertain you as we turn the tables on the pranksters who start these false rumors. So, if you are ready to put your fears to rest, become a more responsible Netizen and have a few laughs, join me for a look at Lies, Damn Lies and ICQ Messages." A search box is available about 2/3-3/4 of the way down the home page. Otherwise, you can just browse through, and see some of the "junk" messages and emails and information about them.
   
• CIAC HoaxBuster Pages
  The US Department of Energy staff was apparently receiving and forwarding so many urban legend and virus hoax emails that they set up a page for security to inform the organization about what was real and what was not - apparently hoping against all hope to stem the tide of hoaxes filling their email boxes - and left it open to the public. Seems there were enough hoaxes and urban legends out there that they now have a "hoaxmaster" and a separate site to handle the hoaxes.
  • Direct to the search page
     
• Korova Multimedia - Hoax du Jour - Korova Multimedia is "... a wide-ranging consulting and education platform for a variety of projects." "Hoax du Jour" is "... a recurring column providing updated information and commentary on the Internet community." A section in the middle of the page allows you to go to a "Sightings" forum, a link to a "Search the Forums" page, the latest "Hoax du Jour" column, and way to search the columns for a word or name.
  • Direct to the forums search page

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Virus Warnings and Hoaxes

For specifically virus warnings, sometimes the Urban Legend links above may have information on it, but, to lend credence to your reply, show you have checked out a virus-specific site.

And, again, please be sure you have an updated virus scanner running at all times. It may slow down your computer, some, but that's MUCH better than having your computer completely die, with everything you treasure wiped from or inaccessible on the drive!

• Vmyths.com
  "Vmyths ... has changed over the years, but ... remains true to its original goal: the eradication of computer virus hysteria." It "... sells the truth about computer virus hysteria. We take no prisoners; we pull no punches. Vmyths refuses antivirus ads in order to maintain its independence, and a legal contract separates our editorial department from our advertising department."
  • Direct to the search page.
     
• Commercial Anti-virus Sites
  These links will take you to the Virus and/or Virus Hoax search pages on the site. In most cases you will get more than one page of information. These sites also sell and contain much more information about anti-virus and other security software.
   
  • McAfee Security - Virus Information
    Use a single word in the search box to get information about a real or hoax virus warning. ("Virtual Card" did not work, but "Virtual" found three pages, one of which was "A Virtual Card for You" hoax.)
     
  • Sophos - Virus Information
    Use the search box at the top of the page to get a list of possible viruses and hoaxes.
    • Sophos Search - Search the Sophos Site
       
  • Symantec - Search Page
    Use the search box and narrow your search (if you wish). Use quotes to search for phrases.
    • Symantec Security Updates
      The Latest (Real) Virus Threats and an alpha search for specifically mentioned viruses. (If an actual virus name is mentioned in an email, you should be able to find it here.)
       
  • F-Secure Hoax Warnings
    Use the search box at the top-right of the page, or use the alpha index at the bottom of the page.
     
• ICQ Web Tools - The Compulsory Forwarding Syndrome Anonymous
  "A Therapeutic Approach To ICQ Hoaxes ... This Web therapy session was created to help cure ICQ "forwarding" addicts, who can't stop distributing meaningless content. We hope this dose of humor & sarcasm will have some affect. Victims of ICQ chain letters, hoaxes & rumors may also find some relief here." - A "fun" look at virus hoaxes.

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