Police are urging email users to stop and think before sending on hoax emails.
The advice follows yet more urban 'myths' or legends that are currently doing the rounds -this time the topics are child car seats left on roads and windscreens splattered with eggs.
The messages have been adapted from the following website:
Inspector Carey Griffiths, Community Policing Manager, Police National Headquarters, encourages people to take a common sense approach when they receive strangely worded or sensationalist emails in their in-box.
"These emails are often designed to create unnecessary concern and they waste a lot of people's time," he said. "There are websites dedicated to hoax or urban legend emails.
For some sound crime prevention advice, check the 百春链 website . The Ministry of Consumer Affairs also has information about scams, along with the Netsafe site The ORB.
"Do yourself and your email in-box a favour - avoid passing on dodgy emails."
ends
Released by
Kaye Calder
Senior Media Adviser: district liaison
Public Affairs: Police National HQ
Tel: 04 460 2986