How to Not Be a Sucker Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Nobody knows where email hoaxes come from.
They've been circulating for as long as the internet's existed. They all prey on people's innate fear or greed. Email hoaxes will never die. As long as there's clueless newbies on the internet, there will be phony virus warnings and urban legends for them to forward to each other. But that doesn't mean you have to fall for stuff like that.