SPOOFS

Sidney Siller, Department Adjutant

Spoofing is a game involving invented hoaxes and nonsense for which the Internet has become a playing field. We have all been taken in at one time or another by email informing us of seemingly valid issues or notices sent to us by our well-meaning friends. In turn we tend to forward these messages to others without checking their validity on the assumption that it must be true or our friends would not have sent them to us. In many cases this only perpetuates false or misleading information from which opinions are formed that result in adverse actions towards others.

The current misleading email messages making the rounds on Target's anti-vet policies, Pepsi, Social Security payments by congressman, internet taxation, veteran insurance refunds, etc. exemplify the ease with which the Internet can be used to spread false information. The military community is especially vulnerable to these messages because of the common bond we hold with our fellow vets and the email links that have been established to pass the word on issues that affect us all. We owe it to each other to verify information sent to us before passing it along. The next time you receive one of these messages check it out by on the appropriate website listed below or send them an email requesting verification before you forward it on. If it turns out to be a spoof notify whoever sent it to you so they stop spreading false info:

Fraud - http://www.fraud.org
HoaxBusters - http://hoaxbusters.ciac.org or email hoaxmaster@ciac.org [Only to report a hoax]
HoaxKill - http://www.hoaxkill.com or email hoaxcheck@hoaxkill.com
Myths - http://www.vmyths.com
Rumors - http://www.cdc.gov/hoax_rumors.htm (Health issues)
Rumors - http://www.snopes2.com/rumors (Military Related)
Scams - http://www.scambusters.org
Skeptics dictionary - http://skepdic.com (scientology, diet pills, paranormal beliefs, and pseudo science)
Snopes - http://www.snopes.com/military/military.asp
Truth or Fiction - http://www.truthorfiction.com or email question@truthorfiction.com
Truth Miners - http://www.truthminers.com/truth or email facts@truthminers.com
Urban Legends - http://www.scambusters.org/legends.html

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