The fact-check archive.
Thousands of dissected hoaxes in Indonesian and English: the claim, what the fact-checkers found, and the sources to verify it yourself.
71 fact-checks
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TRUE – Razor Blades Found on Playground Equipment in East Moline
The claims in the message are true. Local news reports indicate that East Moline authorities discovered around 12 razor blades glued to play equipment in the park. A two-year-old child was cut on the hand.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 26, 2014
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‘Friend Request From Someone You Are Already Friends With’ Alert Message
The advice not to accept friend requests from people you are already friends with is valid and worth heeding. Scammers regularly use a tactic known as Facebook cloning in which they copy publicly available information from a targeted person’s profile and use…
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 3, 2014
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Facebook ‘A Look Back’ Video is Genuine (But Watch For Scam Imitations)
A number of Facebook users have heard rumours that the Facebook “A Look Back” video feature is somehow malicious. The rumours have caused concern and confusion among users.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 7, 2014
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‘Temporarily Blocked From Liking Pages’ Facebook Message
The reports are genuine. Facebook can and does temporarily block people from liking Pages and from other Facebook features if it feels that its community standards have been violated.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Oct 29, 2013
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Capri Sun Mold Warning
A message that has circulated via Facebook and other social media websites since early 2013 warns parents about an incident in which mold was discovered in a container of the popular fruit drink Capri Sun.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 6, 2013
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Monkey Orchid
Above image courtesy: Columbus GV Team, on Flickr A number of images depicting flowers with the face of a monkey have been circulating via social media posts and the blogosphere for several years.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Nov 9, 2012
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Baby With Bong Protest Message
The photo is genuine although the bong does not appear to be lit. Back in 2012, police investigated the mother after seeing the photograph and reportedly found no signs of drug use in the woman’s home and no evidence that the child had actually been given…
Hoax-Slayer · English · Aug 28, 2012
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Viral Video Depicts Fatal Smash Between SUV and Truck
The video is genuine. The accident took place on February 24, 2012 near the village of Omutischi Petushki in Russia’s Vladimir Region. The driver of the SUV was killed.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Apr 11, 2012
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TRUE – Chicken Jerky Dog Treats Warning
According to various warnings which have circulated via social media for a number of years, dogs have died after eating chicken jerky products exported from China. These warnings should be taken seriously.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Nov 29, 2011
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Child Abuse Protest Message – Child Being Stepped on Photograph
The photograph, first published in news reports in December 2009, depicts a bizarre healing ritual performed by Indian “holy man” Jamun Yadav. Yadav claimed that he can cure illnesses by transferring divine energy into the sick child via his feet.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Nov 3, 2011
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Image of Police Officer Macing a Child
The photograph is genuine. However, the identity of the officer is already known and has been for several years. The incident took place on 23rd March 2011 during a public protest in Niterói, Brazil.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Oct 24, 2011
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Facebook Prayer Request For Baby Found in the Bin
The message apparently refers to the real case of a newborn baby that was found on a rubbish dump in Bloemfontein, South Africa in September 2011. The baby was bitten by ants while lying at the dump.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Oct 12, 2011
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Circulating Health Warning: Beware of Little White and Black Caterpillars
Hickory tussock moth caterpillars, which have a distinctive white and black colouring, can excrete a venomous substance on contact that can cause a painful rash and, in rarer cases, more severe reactions.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Aug 30, 2011
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Massive Mound of Writhing Rattle Snakes
The images are genuine. However, the location where the photographs were taken remains unclear. While this version specifies the location as Palo Duro Canyon, alternative versions have listed several other locations in the United States.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Jul 29, 2011
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The Fly in the Urinal – Schiphol Airport Toilet Aim Improvement Technique
The information in the message is true and the image is genuine. The fly in the urinal technique has indeed been used at Schiphol Airport and other locations. The idea has been around for a number of years.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 21, 2011
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2011 Date Oddity – Birth Year Plus Age Equals 111
This circulating message noted that if you add the last two digits of your birth year to the age that you were in the year 2011 you will come up with 111.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Jan 25, 2011
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Animal Mistreatment Protest Message – Firecracker Put In Dog’s Mouth
Unfortunately, the photograph is genuine. This terrible act of cruelty was carried out by two drunken teenagers in Bosnia. The teenagers put fireworks in the dog’s mouth and duct-taped it shut. The dog – named Vucko – had to be euthanized.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Jan 10, 2011
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‘Bighorn Sheep’ On Dam Wall Photographs
The photographs are genuine, but they do not show Bighorn Sheep. The animals in the photographs are Alpine Ibex. The structure shown in the images is the Cingino Dam in Italy.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Oct 6, 2010
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Flying 101 – Kulula Airlines Jet With ‘Instructional’ Livery Outline
The photographs are genuine and depict a real paint job on a real aircraft. As noted in the message, the 737 passenger jet belongs to Kulula, an airline operating out of South Africa. Kulula is known for its sense of humour and its amusing advertisements.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 31, 2010
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Muslim Protest Photographs – Pictures From London
The photographs are genuine. The rally shown in the images took place in London on February 3, 2006 when some in the Muslim community gathered to protest against the publication of cartoons in the Danish press that were considered to be insulting to the…
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 13, 2010
Entries are collected from public fact-checking sites and link back to the original article.