The warning is timely and the details are credible: an acquaintance sends you a desperate plea to curb your late-October shopping enthusiasm because her friend's Afghan boyfriend — who mysteriously disappeared in early September — apparently warned his former flame to stay off commercial flights on September—11, and steer clear of shopping malls on Halloween. With minor variations, this message, originated by a woman in Orange, began spreading around October 9, and ultimately was forwarded to thousands with the best of intentions and one terrified question at the fore: Could it be true? No, it wasn't, and neither are most of the items that invade your in-box each day predicting doom, or promising something for nothing. These e-mail hoaxes have multiplied exponentially since the recent acts of terror. More than just a minor annoyance, they inflict far more harm than good.

The September 11 attacks have spawned an avalanche of tall e-mail tales — a blue envelope holds a mysterious virus; the face of Satan can be seen in a photo of the World Trade Center explosion; Nostradamus predicted the attacks and the rise of Osama Bin Laden; a man survived the blasts by "surfing" falling rubble to the ground. E-mail hoaxes were bad enough before September 11. Now they're just plain out of control. The next time you receive an alarming e-mail calling you to action, look for the telltale characteristics of a hoax before you even think about sending it on to someone else. And, as a final precaution, check with a reliable hoax-buster Web site to see if that "urgent" message deserves to die an early death. By deleting instead of forwarding, you can help thwart Internet congestion, frayed nerves and opportunistic scams in one fell swoop.

First and foremost, turn your thinking around. Shift your default response from "I'll send it just in case," to "I won't send it unless I know it's true." Assume unsolicited e-mails are false unless you can prove they are true using a reliable resource. And don't stop there. Be a good citizen by notifying the person who sent you the message so he or she can (sheepishly) notify all the people he or she "alerted." But how do you know something is a hoax and not a life-changing insight or opportunity? Use your common sense. Then use your Web browser.

Common Characteristics Of E-Mail Hoaxes. Most e-mail hoaxes don't require a lot of research or leg work on your part before the "delete" instinct should kick in. E-mails that tell you they're "URGENT!!" (lots of capitals and exclamation marks), you should "Tell all your friends!" ("forward this to everyone in your address book"), "This isn't a hoax!" ("my neighbor just received this warning so I know that it's true"), or "You are in danger!" (or your hard drive, or your houseplants), probably deserve to go no further. If you still find yourself reaching for the "forward" key though, do everyone a favor — take just one more minute to check your facts.

Do Your Homework. Fortunately, there are many reliable sources who track and evaluate these cultural phenomena. THE URBAN LEGENDS REFERENCE PAGES is comprehensive, up-to-date and intelligently written. VMYTHS.COM debunks computer virus hoaxes, myths, urban legends and hysteria. INTERNET SCAM BUSTERS roots out fraudulent "emergency relief" and other fundraising efforts, as well as get-rich-quick and ponzi schemes.

Rumors spread unwarranted panic and dread. Floods of hoax e-mails slow legitimate communication and productivity. So the next time you're invited to save the life of a sick child's pet hamster — or told your favorite activities either have become inescapable death traps or are about to be taxed out of existence — have a care. Remember that the delete key is located somewhere in the upper right quadrant of your keyboard.

(P.S.  It genuinely pains me to confirm that "Jedi Knight" did not become an officially recognized religion in the United Kingdom — as has been widely reported.)