Base Worker Falls for E-Mail Hoax
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We join with those who mourn the loss of life, the injuries, and the disruption of lives caused by the attacks against Washington, DC, and New York, N.Y. All those effected -- the brave people who helped in rescue efforts, those involved in America's response to terror and in the war with Iraq-- are in our thoughts and prayers.
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Aerospace Corporation
Vandenberg AFB, CA
The first clue that something was wrong was that it sounded too good to be true. Just forward an email to friends (at no cost to yourself) and the American Cancer society would donate money to the treatment of a sick child.
The second was the claim that “. . .this is not a chain letter.”
However, a Base employee recently missed these and other clues,. He forwarded the email hoax, which had already gone through at least eight other users, to 234 more addressees, many of them email groups like “2SLS All” and “30 RANS All.” As a result, an undetermined number of people received the worthless message.
Many users ignored the message; some others probably forwarded it to other friends. However, at least two people pointed out the hoax. One, Drew Somerville of Aerospace Corporation, reported that he had checked with the Cancer Society after receiving the message about six weeks earlier. LTC Doug Murch, SMC Det 9/TEV, echoed Somerville’s conclusions as well reminding everyone that such use of the government computers is inappropriate.
How can you spot an email hoax when you receive one? Here are
some tips:
* It looks like something that
should be shared with LOTS of people.
* The email promises something that’s
too good to be true. Usually profits or high wages with little effort,
or charitable contributions for sending along an email.
* The message tells you it isn’t a hoax.
Or it isn’t a chain letter.
* The email has obviously been forwarded
several times, so the true originator’s identity is unclear, and you cannot
verify that the content is true.
* The message tells you to do something,
especially if it involves your account of information or sending a message
to a stranger over the Internet.
The USAF has released AFI 33-129, “Transmission of Information via the Internet.” It specifically prohibits forwarding chain letters. Most defense contractors have similar policies in place. If you receive a suspected hoax or get a suspected computer virus, contact your Computer Systems Security Office (CSSO).
For more information about computer hoaxes, you can point your Internet browser to <http://kumite.com/myths/>.
[Webmaster's Note: This article was originally written in July 1997 for use in the VSAC News and NCMS Channel Islands News.]