What are Hoax email messages?

I got this email with the picture to my inbox. Please read it.

-----------------------------------The email -------------------------------------

The President of Argentina received this picture and called it "junk
mail."  Eight days later, his son died.


A man received this picture and immediately sent out copies.  His surprise
was winning the lottery.


Alberto Martinez received this picture, gave it to his secretary to make copies
but they forgot to distribute it.  She lost her job and he lost his family.

This picture is miraculous and sacred, don't forget to forward this within 13

days to at least 20 people.

Do Not Forget to forward and you will receive a huge surprise!!

-----------------------------------End of Mail-------------------------------------

Did you get the same mail too or you might get a mail like this.
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"Microsoft is working on a new secret email technology and they need people to test it. They are paying people for it too! Send this email message to 10 people and receive a check for $50.00 from Microsoft. My friend Tom did it and it really works!
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"A new virus is going around and anti-virus software cannot detect it. Go to c:\programs\SomeProgram and see if the file "system.ini" exists. If it does then delete it immediately. It is a virus. Send this to all your friends so we can stop it as fast as possible"
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So what you did , when you get a mail like this to your inbox? Forward it to all you know? Or just delete it. If you delete it you are great. Nothing terrible happen to you if you delete them but you save time and money of others.Don't scare yourself on such mails. Because such email messages are  known as   Hoaxes , Chain e-mails  or Scams.

What are Hoaxes , Chain e-mails ,Scams ?Please  refer following addresses because professionals have explain well about those hoxes on these web sites ?
 

About Hoaxes on wikipedia
Hoax Encyclopedia
What are hoax messages
They are know as chain letter hoaxes