IU Northwest: The IT Help Desk

Urban Myths & E-mail

What's an 'Urban Myth'?
How can I verify that an e-mail is an Urban Myth?
Are Tax credit/slave reparation scam circulating again?
Are Those new gel-candles are maiming & killing people?
I got an e-mail from the IRS; I'm getting audited. HELP!?
Bill Gates is going to give me $1,000!
Will adding 000_ to my address book stop viruses?

What's an 'Urban Myth'?

Urban Myths or Legends are perhaps best characterized as contemporary folklore. They walk hand-in-hand with the fears and worries and hopes that we walk around with every day. Just as people 400 years ago might worry about there actually being a troll under a bridge, we worry that we'll miss out on 'easy money'. One of the unfortunate residual effects of the advent of e-mail is that these myths spread a whole lot faster these days. Much like Virus Hoaxes, Urban Myth e-mails waste a tremendous amount of time and money and try the patience of most people (in particular, when they are trying to get work done).

Just delete them and go on with your work day.

To find out more about the area of Urban Myths, visit Snopes.com FAQ

How can I verify that an email is an Urban Myth?

There are several very good websites you can consult when confronted with email promises of untold wealth (or untold bad luck, etc., etc.).

Are tax credit/slave reparation scam circulating again?

Believed to date back as far as 1993, 'tax season' has again given rise to this email, regular postal mail, and even a '1-800' phone scam concerning slave reparations.

The basic scam is that if you are an African-American born before 1928 (in other variations, the descendant of an African-American slave), you are entitled to an additional $5,000 tax refund. The scam continues to explain that the the person should not contact the IRS since the IRS does not want anyone to know about this 'special refund'. The sender will then offer to handle all the details of filing for this fictitious refund for a $500 fee.

This scam has even been reported as fact by the legitimate press. Essence magazine in 1993, reported that African-Americans should file for the fictitious refund on their standard tax form. "On Line 59 of Form 1040," the magazine reported, "which asks you to list 'other payments' -- simply enter $43,209 in 'Black taxes' and compute accordingly".

There is no such tax refund available to anyone. Further, there are no tax refunds whatsoever based on race. In addition, if the filer was to follow the advice of Essence , they could be subject to a $500 fine by the IRS for making a frivolous claim (talk about insult to injury).

For the full story on this hoax:

Those new gel-candles are maiming & killing people!

No, they're not.

Here's the latest 'threat to Western Civilization' -- gel candles. These are candles that have a gel-like wax that you can see through so they are perfect as decorative additions (you probably got one or more this past Christmas). So as with anything that is popular, there is an email with an urban myth close on its heels.

Basically, this email will tell horror stories of these gel candles building up a 'gas' (not specified, of course), exploding, and the gel acting like napalm. It doesn't. There is no gas build-up and no explosion. While some extra caution is recommended with these candles, as with anything that makes 'fire', whether it be a stove, a fireplace, or a candle, adult supervision is necessary. If you misuse any of the aforementioned, you could get injured very seriously just as if you misused a regular wax candle.

Get the full story on 'napalm candles' NOTE: Please read the entire article. Thank you.
Candle Safety from the NFPA

I got an e-mail from the IRS; I'm getting audited. HELP!!

Okay, here's what you do -- Delete the message. Problem solved. Again, this is an e-mail hoax/urban myth.

For this one, the subject line will read something like 'IRS E-Audit'. The hoax continues with the message claiming that the recipient is being audited and they have to complete the enclosed questionnaire within 48 hours or face horrifying penalties, etc. Of course, the questionnaire asks for confidential info such as Social Security number, bank account number, etc.

First of all, the Internal Revenue Service never contacts anyone by e-mail if they are going to do an audit. Secondly, never, ever, under any circumstances should you send confidential information via e-mail unless you are using a good encryption program (and even then it can be considered a risky action). Thirdly, don't you think you would have heard about something called an 'E-Audit'?

Just as the seasons of the year change, the e-mail hoaxes and urban myths change to suit the season. It's 'tax season' so this IRS e-mail hoax is again making the rounds.

For the full story on the IRS e-mail hoax, stop in at ScamBusters.org , and see their current newsletter (scroll down just a bit for the IRS scam).

I just got an e-mail that says if I forward it to all my friends and coworkers that Bill Gates will give me $1,000! I'm forwarding it to the entire campus.

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates did not get to where he is because he gives everyone who can successfully forward an e-mail $1,000 -- this is an Urban Myth. Variations on this theme include one involving AOL and Intel that allegedly comes from a 'lawyer who knows what he's talking about' -- this one was spammed throughout the IUN campus recently and there is no truth to it. Also, there are regulations as to the proper use of IUN e-mail -- perhaps a quick review is in order for some users (you did agree to adhere to them when you obtained your account, whether or not you actually read them).

Again, as with virus hoaxes, if there are 100 or so e-mail addresses to which the message has already been sent, then it's an Urban Myth. Just delete it and go on with your day.

For the complete story on this and other 'easy money' urban myths, go to Snopes.com