In this Internet era, there are as many suckers as there are megabytes.

Take for example, a very annoying e-mail making the rounds. The subject line says, “PLEEEEEASE REEEEEAD! IT WAS ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA TODAY SHOW.”

The “it” the e-mail is referring to is a story that Microsoft and AOL are running a tracking test and if you forward the e-mail, you could get $245 for every person that you send it to. The e-mail goes on to claim, “For every person that you sent it to that forwards it on, Microsoft will pay you $243 and for every third person that receives it, you will be paid $241. Within two weeks, Microsoft will contact you for your address and then send you a check.”

Oh, and to make it all seem so legit, the writer claims he or she got a check for $24,800 two weeks after receiving the e-mail. Then the person urges, “Please forward this to as many people as possible. You are bound to get at least $10,000.”

I’ve gotten at least half a dozen of these e-mails.

You would think I wouldn’t have to say this, but here goes: You are a sucker if you believe this is true.

What is wrong with you people? Stop forwarding this darn e-mail. It’s a hoax, according to a Microsoft spokesperson.

Fortunately, the e-mail doesn’t contain a virus so it’s not too harmful. But what about others that are forwarded that result in undue worry?

Most recently, I received an e-mail with a dire warning.

It claimed that the plastic credit-card looking room keys that hotels often use contain personal information, such as your credit card number and expiration date and home address. Don’t just turn the cards in at the end of your stay, the e-mail warns. Anybody, especially an unscrupulous hotel employee, can take the card and – using a scanning device – access your information.

I was alarmed. After all, identity theft is on the rise.

I was worried that out there in some trash can was a plastic hotel key I had discarded with my personal information.

Turns out this, too, is not true.

These cards do not supply guests’ personal information such as credit card number, home address or e-mail address, according to the American Hotel & Lodging Assn., which put out a statement to try and dispel this myth.

If you are curious about a suspicious e-mail, there is nothing wrong in checking it out. Try this Web site: www.snopes.com. In fact, the Microsoft/AOL money giveaway is No. 2 on the site’s 25 Hottest Urban Legends.

What you should never do is forward these e-mails. And if you do, don’t think it’s a harmless action.

Forwarding these e-mails could result in many of your friends, co-workers, or family members ending up on spam e-mail lists. That could in turn increase the amount of junk mail they get. And that might lead to somebody becoming a sucker who loses some real money.