Technology Solutions Centre - IT Security

Identifying E-Mail Hoaxes

Hoaxes are forms of social engineering that prey on wary computer users by telling them their systems are in jeopardy if they don’t do what is outlined in the mail. Hoaxes periodically make their rounds, claiming to be from a trustworthy source such as an Anti virus company, or simply forwarded by a friend who has fallen victim to the hoax itself.

As convincing as they may sound, E-Mail hoaxes have tell-tail signs that make them pretty easy to identify:

• Many hoaxes are written in caps, which depicts the sender yelling (e.g. “PLEASE READ THIS!”).

• The hoax speaks of some tragic event that just happened to the sender of the mail (e.g. “ALL MY FILES WERE DELETED!”).

• In sheer panic, the hoax tells you to forward it on to warn others.

• You may see a pile of E-Mail addresses in the “To” field, depicting that this is an issue that everyone should be made aware of.

• The hoax may talk about a virus that no Anti virus software can detect, yet the sender of the mail happened to identify it.

Keeping in tune with the various hoaxes out there is a good rule to follow.  All major Anti virus companies maintain active hoax lists. Trend Micro and Symantec are good examples.  If you ever receive a suspect E-Mail that is not listed in hoax lists, delete it.  If it was legitimate, you will find out from a more trusted source.