Internet Hoaxes are attempts in trying to get an audience to believe an untruth as truth.  They are written for one purpose; to be sent to everyone you know.  The majority of hoaxes play on your need to help other people.  The originator relies on recipients to continue forwarding messages; surely you would want to help your friends avoid a computer system virus or help a young boy dying of cancer.

Hoax messages are sent exponentially and clutter mailboxes everywhere.   For this reason, chain letters are lumped in with the hoax messages.  They have the same purpose but use a slightly different method of coercing you into passing them on.  Generally they play on fear of bad luck if the message is passed along or they play on greed by enticing good luck in money.