Email hoaxes - spam...

[Larry, Baby and Me]

There are tons of emails running around that tell you the world of computers is coming to an end because of certain viruses. If you have a good virus protection program installed and keep the virus definitions up to date... you will NOT be infected.

Here is the latest spam/scam email...
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Subject: Fwd: Virus Alert
Note: forwarded message attached.Subject: Fwd: Virus Alert
Snopes says: This is a REAL VIRUS !

Hi All,

I checked with Norton Anti-Virus, and they are gearing up for this virus!
I checked snopes.com, and it is for real!! http://www.snopes.com/computer/virus/postcard.asp
Get this Email message sent around to your contacts ASAP.
PLEASE FORWARD THIS WARNING AMONG FRIENDS, FAMILY & CONTACTS!

You should be alert during the next few days. Do not open any message with an attachment entitled "POSTCARD", regardless of who sent it to you. It is a virus which opens A POSTCARD IMAGE, which "burns" the whole C hard disc of your computer. This virus will be received from someone who has your email address in his/her contact list. This is the reason why you need to send this email to all your contacts. It is better to receive this message 25 times than to receive the virus and open it.

If you receive a mail called "POSTCARD", even though sent to you by a friend, do not open it.! Shut down your computer immediately!

This is the worst virus announced by CNN. It has been classified by Microsoft as the most destructive virus ever. This virus was discovered by McAfee yesterday and there is no repair yet for this kind of virus. This virus simply destroys the Zero Sector of the Hard Disc, where the vital information is kept.

COPY THIS EMAIL AND SEND IT TO YOUR FRIENDS.
REMEMBER: IF YOU SEND IT TO THEM, YOU WILL BENEFIT ALL OF US!
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THIS EMAIL IS A HOAX ---- SPAM!!!!!

http://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2001-030910-1221-99 (http://www.symantec.com/security_response/writeup.jsp?docid=2001-030910-1221-99)

Threat AssessmentWildWild Level: Low
Number of Infections: 0 - 49
Number of Sites: 0 - 2
Geographical Distribution: Low
Threat Containment: Easy
Removal: Easy
DamageDamage Level: Low
DistributionDistribution Level: Low

LARRY

[Chrissy and Flock]

What do people get out of sending something like that.

[Larry, Baby and Me]

The ones who pass these types of emails along to others do it with good intentions. They believe they are in fact helping their friends by letting them know of potential risks of opening up certain emails.

It is the ones who create the email and start the mess rolling that are the ones to blame.