About Hoax-Slayer
Mission Statement: The goal of the Hoax-Slayer Website is to help make the Internet a safer, more pleasant and more productive environment by:
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- Debunking email and Internet hoaxes
- Thwarting Internet scammers
- Combating spam
- Educating web users about email and Internet security issues.
About Brett Christensen: Unless specifically noted, all articles on the Hoax-Slayer website are written by, me, Brett Christensen. Hoax-Slayer is a one person operation that I run from my home office. No staff are employed to help with the website, although I enjoy the ongoing support and encouragement of my family.
I live in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia with my wife, my two sons and my stepdaughter and stepson. Bundaberg is a small city a few hours drive north of Brisbane and is famous for its rum, ginger beer and sugar cane.
I have now been researching and writing about hoaxes and scams for more than six years. All articles published on Hoax-Slayer are thoroughly researched prior to publication. My findings are based on information available via a variety of credible sources including other reputable websites, news articles, press releases, government or company publications and consumer alerts. If required, I also contact companies, government departments or other relevant entities directly to enquiry about the veracity of a particular message. Most articles include in-text hyperlinks and/or a separate reference list that allow readers to check the information for themselves.
Computing is an important part of my life and I spend a lot of time using computers and the Internet. Through my study, personal and business interests, I have gained a high level of general computing knowledge. Computing is a dynamic and challenging field, and I continue to update my skills and learn more virtually every day.
The Hoax-Slayer website is very important to me and I have put a great deal of time and effort into making it a worthwhile Internet resource.
About Hoax-Slayer's Mission: Email hoaxes spread misinformation, waste bandwidth, and lessen the effectiveness of email as a communication medium. Hoaxes also circulate via social networking websites, blogs and online forums. Hoax-Slayer helps stop the continued circulation of these hoaxes by publishing information about them. Hoax-Slayer allows Internet users to check the veracity of a large number of common hoaxes. Information about new hoaxes is added on a regular basis.
Around the world, Internet scammers steal millions of dollars per year from unsuspecting Internet users. These criminal activities are successful largely because many Internet users are not aware of the ways in which scammers operate and may not recognize scam attempts if they are targeted. Hoax-Slayer aims to counteract these criminal activities by publishing information about common types of Internet scams and providing examples of scam messages.
Spam is the scourge of the Internet. Hoax-Slayer combats the problem by providing information that can help Internet users reduce spam.
Many users inadvertently compromise their online privacy and the security of their computer equipment because of poor computer security practices. Hoax-Slayer publishes information that makes users aware of email, Internet and computer security issues and what to do about them.
Hoax-Slayer In the News: In November 2009, Hoax-Slayer was featured in the Sydney Morning Herald:
Hoax slayer puts the bite on vampires of the cyber world In December 2009, an article discussing the website was published in the Bundaberg News Mail:
Brett Christensen a 'Hoax Slayer' I have also given several radio interviews in which I discuss hoaxes and scams and the website.
In December 2009, the Hoax-Slayer website was added to
PANDORA, Australia's Web Archive. PANDORA is a project operated by The National Library of Australia. PANDORA identifies and archives online publications considered by the Library to have national significance.
Site History: Work began on the Hoax-Slayer website in August 2003. Earlier in 2003, I created a Yahoo Email discussion group designed to debunk and expose hoaxes and scams. The idea for the Hoax-Slayer website grew out of this Yahoo group. In March 2004, I decided to close the Yahoo group and concentrate on adding information to the website and publishing the Hoax-Slayer Newsletter.
In June 2005, the Hoax-Slayer News blog was created to help keep visitors and newsletter subscribers informed about Hoax-Slayer happenings. In July 2007, the blog was completely revamped and began to focus on a much wider range of topics. Blog Hoax-Slayer provided ongoing information about potential computer security threats including viruses, spyware, scams and spam as well as other Internet related topics.
July 2005 saw the launch of the Hoax-Slayer Forums. The forums provided a place for Hoax-Slayer subscribers and visitors to freely discuss scams, hoaxes and other subjects.
In early 2009, both the Hoax-Slayer Forums and Blog Hoax-Slayer were retired and replaced by
Hoax-Slayer Social, a Ning social network that gives Hoax-Slayer visitors even more opportunities to ask questions, interact and exchange information via integrated forums, blogs and chat facilities.
During 2009, an on-page commenting system has been added to many existing articles. New articles published on the site will also include the commenting system. This system allows readers to offer immediate comments or feedback about information published on the website. I now publish site updates via Twitter and have also created a Facebook page for Hoax-Slayer.
Since its launch, Hoax-Slayer has grown from a single home page to a large site with more than a thousand separate web pages. More articles are added to the website every week. The monthly Hoax-Slayer newsletter now has well over thirty thousand subscribers with more people joining every day.
Contact Details: If you wish to offer feedback, ask questions or submit examples, please
contact me via email.
You could also write to
Brett Christensen
PO Box 2063
Bundaberg QLD 4670
Australia
Business Details: Hoax-Slayer forms part of a registered business that has the Australian Business Number (ABN) 12 992 424 947.
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