Hoax from the past:

Welcome to the home page of the "Hoax du Jour."

"419" scams are as popular as ever. Last year, 2600 Americans reported being victimized by "advance fee" scams, including 16 Americans who lost over $345,000. Amazing that some folks will follow their greed, and the hope of an easy dollar, into a con game in which one could lose more than just money. (The U.S. Secret Service reported that one American may've been murdered while arranging the "money transfer.").

Help Cleto: Another heartbreaking photo, another child in need. Can you really help save a child just by forwarding an e-mail? ...In most cases, NO. There is no magic "e-mail forwarding" charity at work. It's yet another sick and futile hoax.

Is Penny Brown still missing? ... Probably not. But her photo and a heartbreaking plea still circulate on the Internet, despite no police records, anywhere, of such a missing child. Despite the fact that the original Internet chain letter contained no credible details (where, and when, she was last seen), the chain letter keeps moving. The last time I checked on this, the contact e-mail address had been closed.

Speaking of futililty, in yet another variant of the SULFNBK.EXE hoax, itself a variant of the "honor system virus hoax," Windows users are asked to delete JDBGMGR.EXE. Don't do it -- the "teddy bear" file is part of your operating system (specifically the Java Virtual Machine). Instead, update your antivirus software and scan all your system files to ensure that none have been infected by a real virus.

Got a new e-mail from a friend or coworker, and it smells fishy? Before you forward it, check here first:

What is the "Hoax du Jour?"

The "Hoax du Jour" is a recurring column providing updated information and commentary on the Internet community. It is a feature of Korova Multimedia's "e-v-mail" page.

What is a "hoax du jour?" With the advent of widespread use of the Internet as a medium for sharing information, the phenomenon of sharing misinformation has exploded. Conventional urban folklore and propaganda have blossomed on the Internet. Intentionally misleading information is broadcast on a professional and personal level.

On the Web, misinformation wants to be free. It also likes to be free of authenticity and corroboration, when such grounding deflates the credibility of the content.

The result? Naive users of the Internet are subjected to a daily barrage of data that are erroneous, slanderous, and sometimes even destructive. This page is dedicated to discussing intentional misinformation, or 'Net hoaxes.

Related topics, questions

Related topic: you know what e-mail is. But do you know what "e-v-mail" is?

Related topic: rate your own Internet alert (or just-received warning from a well-meaning friend) against the Korova Drop-dead Internet Alert guide.

I get e-mail, lots of it. Unfortunately, I can't answer every e-mail personally. Please take a moment to read the Hoax du Jour FAQ for this and other common inquiries. You can also post a message to one of the forum topics.