About 98% of e-mail petitions and warnings are not true at all, partly true or not current. Typically, these messages serve more as a ploy on people's emotions: fear, curiosity, or philanthropy than as a valid source of information. Among popular messages are e-mails that admonish readers to sign their name and forward to everyone in their address book; petition readers to send money, say a prayer, or support a terminally ill child, wife or relative right away; missing children; Bill Gates/Microsoft, AOL, Gap, Old Navy, Bath and Body Works, or other companies who give money/gift certificates if you forward an e-mail; boycotting gas stations; needles in gas pumps; a cell phone Do Not Call registry; parking lot scams; international individuals who pay to transfer large sums of money to a U.S. bank, and safety warnings for women.

So, why do these messages continue to fill up e-mail in boxes? Typically referred to as an urban legend, the lifespan of a misleading message (usually in the form or a petition, warning or hoax) can be kept in circulation for years. Most often, bogus messages are forwarded among friends and family without thought or discretion. In some cases, the circulation of bogus e-mails causes public uproar, frustration, and loss of time and money on a company or individual's behalf to correct misinformation.

One hoax currently in circulation warns readers of a flyer-hijacking scheme targeted at women. The creditability of this warning was only increased because a member of Florida's highway patrol forwarded the message. Without question, the message made its way to Chicago then Atlanta.

With bogus and even spam mail on the rise, it is essential for e-mail users to scrutinize messages (especially those from family and friends) both for content and validity before forwarding. Although they are not the final authority on any one topic, Snopes is a reliable urban legends "buster". Unlike anonymous e-mail authors, Snopes provides a bibliography for each message so that readers may check sources for themselves.

To check the validity of a message, visit www.snopes.com. Put the title or main theme of the message in the search area. Snopes in turn will provide a detailed explanation of the e-mail to include origination date and facts affirming or annulling the content.

Use www.google.com to do a subject search on for messages not found on Snopes. If there is one, government or media related issues should be researched through the medium quoted. Government officials are the best resource for clarity on laws or legislation. A more direct source for government information is www.whitehouse.gov. If an incident occurred in a particular city, use that city's local media: radio, TV or newspapers to research the incident. If local or national media outlets have not reported a message as major or breaking news, it is less likely that it is true.

Researching e-mail before forwarding ensures that meaningful, accurate messages are sent to readers. Additionally, taking time (normally less than one minute using Snopes) to research the content of a message will limit the lifespan of an urban legend, all of which prove to be nothing more than a waste of time and for some, money.