E-mail hoaxes, phishing, spam, and other such worthless and potentially harmful junk mail that our inboxes get flooded with on a daily basis aren't always the easiest things to catch. While a lot of e-mail providers do a great job of separating what you really want to read from the stuff that you really shouldn't touch, every once in a while something slips through. After all, who isn't tempted by the subject lines "You've qualified for a FREE iPod!" or "We've noticed unusual activity on your account..".

A hoax is just that: an email attempting to get you to believe something that isn't true. Some are very convincing; some aren't. These techniques are also know as phishing. Phishing is typically carried out by email or instant messaging, and often directs users to enter details at a website. There are several things you should look out for when looking through your new messages. Here are the top eleven things to look for when trying to figure out if an email you have received is not legitimate:

1. You don't recognize the name of the sender.
2. You are promised ridiculous amounts of money or free stuff for doing little to nothing.
3. You are asked for any money upfront. This includes money for processing fees and paying the cost of expediting process.
4. You are asked for your bank account number, credit card number, or other financial information.
5. Their request is very urgent; maybe even including UPPER CASE LETTERING or many exclamation points (!!!!). Or the sender repeatedly requests confidentiality.
6. The unknown sender offers to send you photocopies of official documentation as evidence that what they are doing is legitimate. If they try to tell you "This is NOT a hoax." you should probably believe the opposite.
7. Your first and last names are not present in the email.
8. You notice a lot of bad grammar and spelling errors.
9. The subject line reads "Urgent Message" or "Account Closing".
10. The email suggests you forward it to everyone you know or it has been forwarded by many people already. While this isn't always proof it's a hoax, it's a good sign that it may be.
11. It contains any attachments that you weren't told you were going to be sent.

Still not sure if that email you just received is legitimate or not? Check to see if the email has been debunked by any websites that debunk urban legends and internet hoaxes (Snopes.com, ScamBusters.org). If you suspect an email is trying to scam you, you can report phishing. Also, if the email is claiming something is true, that should be a fact that is readily accessible when researched, check to see if you can find credible sources on it.

The easiest rule to remember when looking for email hoaxes is: if it sounds far fetched or to good to be true, it almost certainly is. If you always take a moment to scrutinize your email, use a little common sense, and think, you will be a lot less likely to fall for a hoax. Even the most tantalizing subject lines of "Get your FREE Laptop!!" and "You've won $1,000,000!" won't fool you now that you know what you are looking for.