Beware of the hoax email – how seriously should we take them?

Emails that warn of preying rapists and ruthless carjackers are currently doing the rounds, but how seriously should we take them? Viv Groskop reportsWhat would you do if you received this email, forwarded by a trusted friend? “An important message from the Police. Please pass this along to all the women you know. This actually happened a few weeks ago on the M3 Fleet Services. It was early evening and a young girl stopped to get petrol. She filled the tank and walked into the store to pay. The cashier told her, ‘A man just got into the back of your car. I’ve called the police and they’re on their way.'”
http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/women/story/0,,2284776,00.html