How not to fall prey to fake articles
by: Wim Conradie |
Total views: 10 |
Word Count: 406 |
View PDF | Print View
Share This Article
IMPORTANT: IF YOU SUSPECT ANY STATEMENT TO BE QUESTIONABLE YOU MUST READ THIS
I regularly receive untrue emails from friends. The sad thing is it usually comes from good people who do not really know what they are sending.
Popular examples of this untrue information:
- Beta testing software: Bill Gates shares fortune with Microsoft users
- 'A virtual card for you': Another hoax virus warning: "It sends itself automatically to all contacts on your list with the title 'A Virtual Card for You...'"
- Nigerian money scam
Step 1: Decide if it's questionable
For example if it says Microsoft is giving thousands away for forwarding an email - red lights should go on. Not all fake articles are so obvious, but if the article makes any strange claim you should check it out.
Step 2: Google it
The internet is the biggest source of information that exists. Google is the way to access it. There are hundreds of websites that keep track of all these untrue articles and Google knows them all. The easiest way to check if something is valid is simply to copy a line that makes the article unique and give it to Google. Google will give you plenty of websites that will tell you whether the article is true or not. The nice thing about Google is that the website with the most authority tends to be listed first in the search results.
If you do not know how to use Google, it is strongly recommended that you ask somebody to quickly show you how. It will save you tons of time in the future.
Step 3: Reply to the person who send it
If you find a website that confirms that the information is incorrect, reply to the person who sent it to you with the following:
1. Something like "Dear John, I'm not sure if you were aware of what you sent me, but I think you should check out this/these websites"
2. A web address (also known as URL) of the website
3. A copy of this document you are staring at (so that we can stop the lies from spreading)
If the person sent it to a lot of people, click on the "Reply to all" button on your email program to also tell the other people in order to increase the chances to stop it from spreading.
Share This Article
Rating: Not yet rated Next Article - Using Google SPAM filters for your own mail and Previous Article - How Can Email Marketing Benefit Your Business
About the Author
Wim Conradie is a majority shareholder in Matogen Corporate Web Development (www.matogen.com). He studied electronic engineering, computer sciences & industrial engineering at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa and started first web development business in November 2003. He has a 'passion for business and adding value to other busnesses'.
Comments
No comments posted.Add Comment
Popular Articles about: Email
1: Email Marketing Services2: The Effectiveness of Email Marketing
3: Permission Based Email Marketing
4: Email fraud and Hoax emails whats the harm
5: How To Boost Publicity Through Effective Use Of Email
6: Ways To Build A Profitable Opt In List Doing Email Marketing or Bulk Lists-00-2143
7: An Introduction To Bulk Email Marketing
8: Testimonial Examples
9: Symbolic Expression of Emotion in Text
10: Small Business Email Advertising - Keys To Success
11: Email Marketing Campaign For Maximum Effect
12: Protecting Your Kids from Predatory Emailers
13: Review Of Email Finders
14: Email Marketing: The Best Time To Start And How Often Should You Email
15: Email Marketing: What Is Your Best Choice Of An Email Marketing System For Your Business?
16: How Can Email Marketing Benefit Your Business
17: Using Google SPAM filters for your own mail
18: Get Rid of Lousy Spam For Good
19: Tukanas Email Extractor v2.0 - Servers::Mail Servers Software
20: Brighten Your Day with a Smiley!
21: Email Marketing Solutions
22: Business to Business Email Marketing
23: Why You Should Be Using E-mail Marketing Software
24: Online Email Marketing Secrets
25: Email Marketing - The Rule of List
26: The Why And How Of Email Marketing
27: The Advantage of Using Premium Email Addresses Directory Website
28: Effectively Retrieve an Email Address Using Email Addresses Directory Service
29: How to Manage Email Marketing For Your Business
30: 10 Autoresponder Ideas to Increase Your Profits