How Much Truth is in that Forwarded E-mail? A Guide to Separating Fact from Fiction in Your Inbox

We've all seen it: that e-mail that's just too funny, too shocking, or too anger-inducing or terrifying to be true. And when it boils down to it, it probably isn't. Our inboxes are flooded with messages forwarded from friends, coworkers, and family members about political scandals, heartbreaking tragedies, shocking corporate behavior, and terrifying warnings about disease and violence. Let's look at a few simple things you can do to check the accuracy of any e-mail that comes your way so that you can help pass on the word or stop it in its tracks when needed.

The first rule of e-mail verification is this: don't trust anything you read in a forwarded e-mail. This includes the now-ubiquitous claims that the e-mail has already been verified. The people who write these chains (for who knows what reason) have wised up to the various sites intent on stopping them, and now they often include a line or two about already being verified. Surely you've seen one that claims, "This was checked out on Snopes.com and is true!" These claims are made solely for the purpose of tricking you into forwarding it along without actually verifying it yourself.

Another thing to remember is that just because someone's name is in the e-mail doesn't mean it's true. That person may not even exist! Dr. Mike Wainwater of Valdosta, Georgia might claim that he's seen an increase of kids coming into his office after suffering a raisin overdose, but when it turns out that there is no Sr. Rainwater, we shouldn't be surprised to discover there's also no such thing as a raisin overdose. This also applies to the signatures at the bottom of the e-mail. Unless that signature is someone you personally know, you're better off assuming it's not a real person and is there only to make the e-mail seem more authentic.