In spite of more than a decade of attempts at eradication, many Internet users are still being infected by a virus that causes them to believe without question every groundless story, legend, and dire warning that shows up in their inbox or on their browser.

The Gullibility Virus, as it is called, apparently makes people believe and forward copies of silly hoaxes relating to free give-aways, cancer victims, banning of religious programming on the airwaves, attacks against morals and values, get-rich-quick schemes, losing on-line access to their banking and PayPal accounts, and hundreds of other ridiculous and patently false claims.

"These are not just readers of tabloids or people who see UFO's," according to one source who asked for anonymity.   "Most are otherwise normal people who would laugh out loud at the same stories if told to them by a stranger on a street corner." However, once these same people become infected with the Gullibility Virus, they believe anything they read on the Internet or that appears in their email inbox.

"My immunity to tall tales and bizarre claims is all gone," reported one weeping victim. "I believe every warning message, every virus announcement, and every sick child story my friends forward to me.  I just can’t help myself."

Another victim, now in remission, added, "When I first heard about Madeline Murray O'Hair asking the FCC to outlaw prayer on the airwaves, I just accepted it without question and forwarded it to all 500 people in my address book! After all, there were dozens of other recipients on the mail header, so I figured the story must be true.  Had I thought about it, I would have remembered that O'Hair has been dead for decades!" 

It was a long time, the victim said, before she could stand up at a Hoaxees Anonymous meeting and state, "My name is Jane, and I've been hoaxed." Now, however, she is spreading the word. "Challenge and check whatever you read," she says.  "Don't forward it until you've checked it out.  Otherwise, you end up simply telling 500 people how ignorant and gullible you are."

T. C. is another example of someone recently infected. He told one reporter, "I read on a website that the major ingredient in almost all deodorant gives you cancer, so I've stopped using deodorant."  And an elderly friend received an email informing her that her PayPal account had been compromised.  "I don't know what PayPal is," she reported, "but it sounded important so I followed the email's instructions to the letter just to be sure." 

And who doesn’t want to help out a child with a terminable illness or a family that has been victim of an accident.   It is sad that these hoaxes circulate, but even more tragic is the fact that so many supposedly-intelligent people fall for them.

Many of the victims are unaware they are at risk.  "I received an email that said my computer was infected with a virus that couldn't be caught by my antivirus software, and that I needed to 'click here' to fix the problem.  So I clicked there.  Boy, was I ever embarrassed!" said one blushing victim.    "It took my teenage son several weeks to clean up our computer!"

Another reported, "The email came from North Texas Credit Union and said that on-line access to my account would be terminated next Monday if I didn't verify my name, social security, birthdate, and credit card numbers.  It was only after I finished entering the data on their website that I remembered  I don't have an account at North Texas Credit Union.  In fact I've never even heard of them."

Wachovia, CitiBank, and other major institutions have reported that many of their customers are showing unmistakable signs of infection.  "We receive dozens and dozens of reports every day from concerned customers who have received emails telling them that their account is being frozen.  The emails have our logo on them and look authentic.  But when you hover your mouse over the link in the email, you discover that the website is bogus.  If customers would just take a minute or two to open a new browser window and visit our website they way they normally do, it would be obvious that the URL in the email is as fake as a seven-dollar bill."

Another bank official who wishes to remain nameless made a telling observation.  "These customers would never accept an offer from a stranger standing out on the street who wants to print their checks for them.  So why do they fall for a stranger on the Internet offering the same thing?"

Internet users are urged to examine themselves for symptoms of the Gullibility virus, which include the following:

Certain mentally-infirm groups have been identified as being especially susceptible.  Those addicted to talk-radio and talk-TV are several times more likely to become infected than the average educated American.  Readers of sensationalist publications like the National Enquirer, London Sun, Wall Street Journal or International Herald Tribune are easily infected.  Conversely, those who regularly visit Gartner, Snopes, and other trustworthy tech sources seem to be infected with much less frequency.

But mere avoidance of the risk factors and high risk groups is no guarantee of immunity.  Anyone can become infected.

Anyone with symptoms like those listed above is urged to seek help immediately. Experts recommend that at the first feelings of gullibility, Internet users rush to their favorite search engine and look up the item tempting them to thoughtless credence. Practically all circulating hoaxes, legends, and tall tales have been widely discussed and exposed by the Internet community.  

But always use trusted Net sources that YOU select!  Don’t fall for the malicious jamming ploys when the messages say, "call AOL (or the FCC, or McDonald's Headquarters, or whomever) and they will tell you it is true!"   Those sentences are added in the message not only to help make you believe the hoax, but also to flood the innocent company or agency with phone calls or email, thus fooling YOU into annoying the victimized company or agency.  Don't be a stooge! 

And don't believe emails that say "Snopes has verified this.".  Go to Snopes yourself and verify it!  

Better yet, get the information from several independent and trustworthy sources. 

There is valuable online help from many trustworthy sources, including:

People who are still symptom free can help inoculate themselves against the Gullibility Virus by reading some good material on evaluating the quality of information sources, such as

Lastly, as a public service, Internet users can help slow the spread of the Gullibility Virus by replying to anyone who forwards them a hoax -- politely educating and enlightening them.    Feel free to send them a reference to this webpage and other sources where they can obtain information for themselves, before blindly acting on the directions of others.

As literate citizens, it is our responsibility to spread truth, not falsehoods.