2 of 7

No

Write now Article Tools

Unfortunately a very effective medium like internet and email has been discredited because of a few unscrupulous persons. While it is a serious issue and everyone needs to participate in the effort to trace the missing person, one should also ponder before forwarding such mails.

Think about the purpose behind such email? There are several reasons for circulating such emails -

1. Create sympathy in the mind of the readers so that they will part with their cash
2. Ask for a token money from each person to help the search party. If 100 people respond with atleast $10, there's a neat packet. Some people will contribute more.
3. Some messages talk about calling up a number or share a picture. This may be somebody's idea of playing mischief at somebody else's expense.
4. It could be an effort to smuggle virus into downloading computers, particularly if there are attachments with the mail.
5. Clogging network traffic in target networks will lead to more bandwith purchase meaning more business
6. Target online ads that go with the email could provide fillip to their business

There are probably other reasons as well for which such hoax mails are sent out. Why else do you think people take the effort, spend time and money to create such emails? Also, these emails are copied and circulated in other geographies by replacing with local terms, places and people names which again justifies the hoax theory.

Having said this I would definitely agree with other contributors on this site that it may be worthwhile to look up the case in couple of missing person website to check the authenticity of the email.

Also the following may be worth doing -
1. Check on the missing person websites for the authenticity of the missing person claim. Other readers have already submitted most of those sites.
2. If it is not on these couple of sites, write back to the sender about the fact and ask him or her to verify and confirm.
3. Always write back to a sender of mass email how they are wasting resources and request them to stop such activities in future
4. Explain to the senders, how they are helping the unscrupulous guys by forwarding their false emails.
5. The negative impact of their circulating possible hoax case on other folks.

It is high time such wrong emails are brought to an end. Recently emails with highly disfigured pictures of babies supposedly from war-torn countries have been circulated claiming that the baby requires medical operation and hence funds are needed to save the child. While the email is extremely touchy and may be true, how many of us will not doubt the authenticity of it? After all, a burnt child does fear the fire!

Learn more about this author, Saurabh Pal.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Should we participate in missing person emails? ?
We want to hear your view. Write now!