Internet Hoaxes

There are a variety of hoaxes perpetuated on the Internet. The viruses alerts are quite common. If someone asks you to forward a message to everyone you know, it is probably a hoax. Such chain letters are prohibited at most organizations, including UMKC. They are designed to cost businesses/institutions money and cost people time while they tie-up/stall computers all over the country. The message is the real computer infection.

If you are concerned about a possible virus.


For a good variety of information on the topic.


Hoaxes come as offers for deals and money, virus alerts, and more. Any of these sound familiar?

"He was still feeling the effects of the drugs, but looked around to see he was alone. He looked down at his chest, which had "CALL 911 OR YOU WILL DIE" written on it in lipstick...." Well the story goes on to say that someone stole his kidneys to sell on the black market. HOAX One police Chief told us the name of a book (fiction) that this story was taken from....It's not true." http://www.uwstout.edu/stulife/police/news.htm

"Then there's the one that about "the lady who was at Mrs Field's (or sometimes it's Nieman Marcus) who loved the chocolate chip cookies, and asked for the recipe." She was told it would cost "two-fifty" so she said fine, charged but when she got her credit card statement it cost her $250.00. So to get back at them she is posting the recipe on the net and asks you to forward it to everyone you can think of. Neiman Marcus never served cookies in their restaurants until recently, when they developed a new chocolate chip cookie in response to this myth! (And they will give out the recipe to anyone for free!)" http://www.uwstout.edu/stulife/police/news.htm

"There is an e-mail that tells a story about a seven-year-old boy named Craig Shergold who was diagnosed with incurable brain tumor. As he lay dying, he wished only to have friends send him postcards." Craig is college age, healthy, and does not wish the 20,000 cards he receives every week due to a prankster. http://www.uwstout.edu/stulife/police/news.htm