LIBS100Email Etiquette and Hoaxes

May 16, 2005

L. Galloway

Email Etiquettein the Workplace

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Email Etiquette

• Always use a subject heading and a signature

• Be concise and to the point

• Be professional– Use proper layout, punctuation, grammar. – Do not use abbreviations like “b4” and “I’ll get back

2 u” in business correspondence.– Capitalization and “flaming” – Use professional address in professional

communication

Email Etiquette

• Read it before you send it

• Privacy- anyone can forward, print or copy your words

• Remember that the recipient only has your words

• Don’t use email when a phone call or visit is more appropriate

Email Hoaxes

www.snopes.com

– Excellent site for checking potential hoaxes or rumors

– Never forward such an email unless you know for sure it is true (and even then maybe not!)

Email Hoaxes and Scams

• Phishing

Legitimate looking e-mail that attempts ot to scam the user into surrendering private information that will be used for identity theft. User is directed to site where they are asked for personal info.

Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks

• Attacker uses social skills to obtain or compromise information about an organization or individual.

• Solicit personal (usually financial) information. Emails appear to come from legitimate organizations.

Phishing

• Be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls, visits or emails. Need to verify that source is legit.

• Never ever click the links within the text of the e-mail.

• Always delete the e-mail immediately

Email Hoaxes and Scams

Nigerian 411/419 Scams

• You are asked to assist foreign nationals who have funds to transfer *temporarily* into your account.

• You must provide your banking info, company info.

• Leads to theft of YOUR money

Email Hoaxes and Scams

Charities

• Phony charities soliciting funds via email

• May also capture your credit card info

• Only donate to legitimate charities through their Web sites or reputable sites

Email Hoaxes and Scams

Something for Nothing

• Free phones, goods services

• Even if you don’t lose $, spammers can dump spyware or programs on your computer to steal information

Email Hoaxes and Scams

Moral Outrage• Example: rumor that Middle Eastern people

were cheering in a restaurant watching WTC’s crumble on 9-11-01

• These rumors spread all over via email, in some cases surveillance tapes showed that this did not happen - businesses hurt anyway.

Email Hoaxes and Scams

General silliness/Chain letter

• Tinky Winky is Gay!!!!

• Sponge Bob and Barney are promoting a homosexual agenda!!!!

• Forward this message to 10 friends and your deepest desire will come true!!!!

Assignment 1

• Read your email, then go to the directions for completing assignment.

• You will need to RESEARCH this email message using one of the suggested web sites. You will also need to RECORD the web site name to REPORT this source.

Assignment 1

• Write me a 3-paragraph email (use the email etiquette points!)– Para 1: Summarize the email – what is

claiming or asking? What information is the sender attempting to gather (1 & 2)

– Para 2: What is the TRUE origin of this message? Is it old or new?(3)

– Para 3: What can the scammer do with this information? What should YOU do if you get a message like this?

Homework for 18 May 2005

• Read Parade article

• Complete and turn in Assignment 1