Final answer:
E-mail hoaxes become popular by prompting action on the reader's part and establishing credibility through famous authors or credible sources.
Step-by-step explanation:
E-mail hoaxes can become popular and continue circulating for years due to several factors. One reason is that the story prompts action on the reader's part. These hoaxes often play on people's emotions or fears, such as promising good luck or warning of a potential danger, and urge the reader to take action by forwarding the email to others. Additionally, establishing credibility can contribute to the popularity of e-mail hoaxes. Some hoaxes may claim to be written by famous authors or cite credible sources to make them appear more legitimately.