1. Spokeo.com Scam
Online rumors say the personal info search engine Spokeo.com invades people's privacy. Status: See details
2. '72B 381' Amber Alert Hoax
Facebook postings claim a child has been abducted by a man driving a grey car, license number 72B 381. Status: False
3. Giants Found in Greece (Photos)
Hoax images purport to show skeletons of giant human beings (Nephilim or Canaanites) allegedly found in an archaeological dig in Greece. Status: Fake
4. Lady Gaga Is a Hermaphrodite
An online concert video appears to show a little "something extra" peeking out from under Lady Gaga's miniskirt. Status: False
5. Amazing Tsunami Picture
Emailed image purports to show the devastating tsunami of December 26, 2004 washing ashore on the Thai island of Phuket (or Indonesia, depending on version). Status: Fake
6. 'Postcard from Hallmark' Virus
Email alert warns of "the worst virus ever" circulating in the form of an attachment labeled "POSTCARD" or "POSTCARD FROM HALLMARK." Status: See details
7. Hercules, World's Biggest Dog (Photo)
Emailed image of a gargantuan dog named Hercules, purportedly the Guinness Record holder for World's Biggest Dog. Status: Fake
8. Giant Human Skeleton Found in Middle East (Photo)
"Recent gas exploration activity in the southeast region of the Arabian desert uncovered skeletal remains of a human of phenomenal size..." Status: Fake
9. Obama Cancels National Day of Prayer
Rumor spreading on Facebook claims President Obama has canceled the annual National Day of Prayer for 2010 so as "not to offend anyone." Status: False
10. Cell Phone Numbers to Go Public
Forwarded email warns that a directory of cell phone numbers will soon be published and urges users to enter their cell phone numbers on the federal Do Not Call Registry to prevent calls from telemarketers. Status: Mostly false
11. Mr. Rogers Was a Marine Sniper / Navy Seal
Internet rumors allege that mild-mannered children's TV show host Fred Rogers had a former secret career as a trained assassin. Status: False
12. Jamie Lee Curtis Is a Hermaphrodite
Longstanding rumors say actress Jamie Lee Curtis was born with male sex organs and underwent a sex change operation as an infant. Status: Dubious
13. Obama Citizenship Case Reaches Supreme Court
Purported AP news story claims Occidental College transcripts reveal that Barack Obama, using the name "Barry Soetoro," received a Fulbright Scholarship only awarded to foreign-born students. Status: False
14. Burundanga Drug Warning
Forwarded emails warn that criminals in the U.S. and Canada are using business cards impregnated with a potent street drug called burundanga (aka scopolamine) to incapacitate victims before attacking them. Status: Mostly false
15. Breast Infestation (Photo / Video)
Emailed image and video purport to document the medical case of a female anthropologist who failed to seek treatment for a rash and wound up with an infestation of larvae in her breast. Status: Partly true
16. H.R. 1388 - Hamas Resettlement
Forwarded email claims President Obama has funded a $20 million resettlement of Hamas refugees to the United States via H.R. 1388 (aka H.B. 1388), a bill supposedly passed "behind our backs" by Congress. Status: False
17. Lady Gaga Amputates Leg as Fashion Statement
Internet rumors claim glam icon Lady Gaga underwent surgery to amputate on of her legs "for fashion." Status: False
17. 'Eye of God' in Outer Space (Photo)
Emailed NASA photo taken by the Hubble Space Telescope has been labeled the "Eye of God" by frequent forwarders. Status: Authentic
18. Eminem Dies in Car Crash
Online news story says rapper Eminem died in an automobile accident after drinking and doing drugs at a party. Status: False
19. Snopes.com Exposed
Forwarded email alleges that the urban legend debunking site Snopes.com is "owned by a flaming liberal" who is "in the tank for Obama" and can't be trusted to provide reliable information. Status: False
20. Richard Gere and the Gerbil
Actor Richard Gere had to be rushed to the emergency room to have a certain foreign object removed from a certain bodily orifice. Status: False
21. Do They Eat Babies in China?
Internet scuttlebutt claims aborted fetuses and dead babies are cooked and eaten in China. Status: False
22. Toxic Benzene in Cars
Forwarded email claims that car interiors contain toxic levels of cancer-causing benzene emitted by dashboards, car seats, and air fresheners. It recommends opening windows to expel trapped benzene gas before turning on the car air conditioner. Status: See details
23. Cook County Correctional Center (Photos)
Emailed photos purportedly show the stylish and comfortable new digs of prison inmates in Chicago's Cook County Correctional Center. Status: False
24. Muslims Exempt from Health Insurance Mandate
Forwarded email claims U.S. health care legislation passed in 2010 specifically exempts Muslims from the government mandate to purchase insurance and calls this an instance of "Dhimmitude." Status: False
25. Why the Ocean Is So Salty
According to this forwarded email, a typical blue whale produces over 400 gallons of sperm when it ejaculates... and you wonder why the ocean is so salty! Status: False
Newly Added / Updated:
1. Don Rickles Roasts Democrats
Circulating via email, a comedy bit attributed to Don Rickles roasting well-known Democrats Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama, and others. Status: Falsely attributed
Last updated: 05/06/10
