Email Hoaxes
BlueMountain Greeting Card Hoax      
In February 1999, BlueMountain.com - a legitimate greeting card site - was the victim of a virus hoax. However, in 2007, the site link was falsely used to trick people into downloading a trojan. But while the link display read bluemountain.com, the underlying HTML code really pointed to a completely different - and malicious -website. For details, see the article Greeting Card Scam Foists Trojans. Details on the original hoax (circa 1999) appear below.
 
Choke.exe is a Worm      
As if understanding viruses, worms, and Trojans weren't difficult enough, the often accompanying misinformation makes the job much harder for many users. A savvy reader reported a hoax that provides misleading guidance to users affected with the MSN Messenger Choke worm. The erroneous warning stated in part, "you must delete all winzip files before you can delete the virus from the computer." As with most such hoaxes, the message ended with the defining statement of nearly all hoaxes: "Please pass this on to n e one else you know..."
 
Hard drive killer aka buddy list virus hoax      
Hard drive killer aka buddy list virus hoax
 
Invitation Virus Hoax      
Invitation Virus Hoax
 
Strunkenwhite virus      
The Pluperfect Virus: In May of 1999, Cybersatirist Bob Hirschfeld of bobsfridge.com wrote a humorous satire about an imaginary virus that refused to send email that was grammatically incorrect. Published in The Washington Post and quickly picked up by other media publications, his article eventually found its way into email inboxes and was considered a hoax or a true virus report by many. It was neither. It is simply a funny story written by a funny guy.
 
Osama Bin-Laden hanged hoax      
In July 2004, a Trojan was sent out bearing the subject line "Osama Found Hanged". The body of the email read: Osama Bin Ladin was found hanged by two CNN journalists early Wedensday evening. As evidence they took several photos, some of which i have included here. As yet, this information has not hit the headlines due to Bush wanting confirmation of his identity but the journalists have released some early photos over the internet..
 
Hoax Encyclopedia      
Virus hoaxes, scams, and chain letters abound in email. Before forwarding that dire sounding warning or too good to be true promise, check the validity of it here. Chances are, it's a hoax. Virus hoaxes and myths waste time and money - and can make the sender look foolish. Don't fall victim to a virus hoax. Check the list of hoaxes below to find out the facts behind that email.
 
!0000 Tip      
The !0000 tip began as a misguided attempt to be helpful. The hoax instructs users to add the bogus !0000 name to their email address book in an effort to thwart email worms. The author assumed that the worm would try to send itself to all addresses listed in the address book and an error would be generated because of the !0000 address. Why it won't work: Email worms rarely send only to the Windows
 
48 Hours Hoax      
This hoax warns of a fictitious new virus allegedly arriving in 48 hours and warns that "it is a cyber-terrorism". Example of hoax email: A virus will be spreading in 48 hours from now!!!! PLEASE BE VERY CAREFUL: This message arrived today, Microsoft just announced it.The information said: If you receive an e-mail with the subject Help, don't open it, don't even move your mouse over it or clean it because with only that action a virus will be activated without the necessity to download any file, it is a cyber-terrorism!!
 
Federal Bill 602P: 5-cent email tax      
Description: This email hoax warns of Federal Bill 602P which the author claims will impose a 5-cent email tax on every delivered email. The Facts: There is no Federal Bill 602P nor is their a Congressional representative named Tony Schnell. Both the facts and the email are a fake. The email has been in circulation since at least 1999. Unlike most hoaxes, it is detailed and well-written, perhaps making it seem more believable and thus explaining its successful run as a hoax. Example of the hoax email: Subject: 5 cent e-mail
 
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