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As the Internet becomes more widespread heading into the 21st century, it's sad to say how many of us are still taken in by e-mail and Internet hoaxes.

So to paraphrase an old saying about newspapers, Don't believe everything you read on the Internet.

Unlike phishing, a hoax is simply designed to mislead, raise concerns, or otherwise fill up email inboxes with mischevious untruths. (No, Virginia, that Tourist Guy at the World Trade Center appeared through the magic of Photoshop).

Elsewhere around the Web, fake reports of UFO sightings, the untimely demise of Hollywood stars, or the suspected birthplaces of American presidents are regulary joined by misnamed YouTube videos in the not-so-grand tradition of Rick Rolling.

Less harmful April Fools pranks have also become a tradition each year by the likes of Google and the BBC.

Learn more about other bait and switch schemes, e-mail hoaxes, wild Internet rumors, fake virus alerts, and their old predecessor - chain mail - and what to do before you pass them on to unsuspecting friends and family...

More about Internet and email hoaxes around the Web:

Snopes.com - Internet rumors regularly exposed via the magic of actual facts.

Health Related Hoaxes and Rumors - The latest and greatest health scares exposed by the CDC.

Don't Spread That Hoax! - Please....with the most popular and long running - sympathy chain letters, the Neiman Marcus Secret Cookie Recipe, and the "Proctor & Gamble Run by Church of Satan" hoax...

Hoax Busters - A good read and a BIG LIST of fake claims, phony virus alerts, phishing scams and 5 Telltale Signs for spotting a hoax (hint: if the subject header contains more than one exclamation point, delete).

Truth or Fiction - An Internet watchdog either verifying or putting the kabosh on media rumors, with Computer-Internet reality checks, celebrity gossip and more.

The Museum of Hoaxes - Regular blog posts on recent hoaxes, scams and outrageous Web buzz including a hoax news archive.

Symantec Security Response - Hoax Page - Our favorite archive of most prevalent email and virus hoaxes of the past decade.

also see -> Blogs | E-Mail | Netiquette | Weird Web

also see in Society -> Urban Legends