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.
1,939 fact-checks
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‘Comment #177’ Hacker Test Facebook Hoax
The claim is just a silly prank. Entering #177 is certainly not a valid way to check if your Facebook account has been hacked. If you enter ‘#177’, nothing but ‘#177’ will appear, even if you HAVE been hacked.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 16, 2016
- ✕Hoax
‘Confirm UCount Reward Points’ Phishing Scam Email
UCount is a rewards programme offered by South Africa’s Standard Bank. However, this email is not from Standard Bank. Instead it is a phishing scam designed to steal your bank account login details via a fraudulent webpage made to look like a Standard Bank…
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 16, 2016
- ✕Hoax
No, the FDA is NOT Banning Electronic Cigarette ‘Juice’ in July 2016
The claims in the report are untrue. The FDA has not announced such a ban and there are no credible news stories that confirm claims in the report. The false report comes from a fake-news website called ‘Associated Media Coverage’.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 16, 2016
- ✕Hoax
Fake ‘National Lottery’ Winning Notification Emails Still Hitting Inboxes
The National Lottery did not send the email. You have not won any money. The email is a scam designed to trick you into sending your money and personal information to Internet criminals.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 16, 2016
- ✕Hoax
Fake eBay ‘Order Confirmation’ Email Designed to Steal PayPal Login Details
The email is not from eBay. It is a phishing scam designed to steal your PayPal account login details. The ‘Cancel Order’ button in the email opens a fraudulent website designed to look like the PayPal home page.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 15, 2016
- ✕Hoax
‘Payment Declined’ Emails Contain Locky Ransomware
The email is not from any sales manager, and the claim that a payment has been declined is untrue. The attached.zip file contains a malicious JavaScript file that installs Locky ransomware on your computer.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 15, 2016
- ✕Hoax
‘Your Eligibility Status Has Been Confirmed’ Advance Fee Scam
The email is not from Alwaleed Philanthropies and the claim that you have been awarded a multimillion dollar grant is untrue. The email is an advance fee scam designed to trick you into sending your money and personal information to Internet criminals.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 15, 2016
- ✕Hoax
‘All Inclusive Southwest Vacation’ Facebook Like-Farming Scam
The Facebook Page is fraudulent. It is not associated with Southwest Airlines and it is not giving away prize packages as claimed. The Page is designed to rapidly accumulate as many likes as possible so that it can be either reused to launch further scams or…
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 15, 2016
- ✕Hoax
‘Tip Off From SAPS’ Hoax Warning
The warning is not from SAPS. It is just a silly hoax that has been circulating since at least 2014. There are no credible news or police reports that support the claims in the message.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 15, 2016
- ✕Hoax
‘Received Documents From Your Bank’ Emails Contain Locky Ransomware
The emails are not from any legitimate financial manager. Nor does the attachment contain banking documents. Instead, the attached.zip file contains a malicious JavaScript file that, if opened, can download and install Locky ransomware.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 14, 2016
- ✕Hoax
Sophisticated Malware Attack Hijacking Australian Banking Apps on Android Phones
Cybercriminals are targeting customers of several Australian banks who use banking apps on Android phones to access their accounts. The attack is perpetrated via sophisticated malware that can hijack the genuine bank apps on the phones, thereby stealing…
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 14, 2016
- ✕Hoax
PayPal ‘Account Notification’ Phishing Scam
The email is not from PayPal. It is just one in an endless stream of phishing scams aimed at PayPal customers. It is designed to steal your PayPal account login details, credit card numbers, and other personal information via forms on a fraudulent website.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 14, 2016
- ✕Hoax
Fake-News Reports About ISIS Attacks in US Lead to Malware Websites
The claims in the reports are untrue. No ISIS attacks have occurred in the locations mentioned. The reports come from a scam website that attempts to trick people into visiting sites that contain rogue antivirus software, malware plugins, or other nasties.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 14, 2016
- ✕Hoax
Fake Center Parcs Facebook Page is a Like-Farming Scam
Update In November 2018, a new version of this Center Parcs scam claimed that you could comment and share for the chance to win a holiday for 4 people. The post purports to be from a person called “Mark Frendon” who claims to be the CEO of Center Parcs.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 14, 2016
- ✕Hoax
No, a Circulating Image Does NOT Depict Now Grown Up Conjoined Twins Separated By Dr Ben Carson in 1987
Dr Carson and his team did conduct groundbreaking surgery to separate German conjoined twins Benjamin and Patrick Binder in 1987. However, the first photograph depicts Canadian twins Krista and Tatiana Hogan, not the Binder twins.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 13, 2016
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TRUE – You Should Update Your Kindle Before March 22nd
The reports are true. Amazon has indeed released a critical update for Kindle Readers and has warned users that the update needs to be applied before March 22.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 12, 2016
- ✕Hoax
Did a ZCC ‘Prophet’ In South Africa REALLY Challenge a Lion to Do Battle?
The story remains unsubstantiated and may well be untrue. A Kruger National Park spokesperson told AfricaCheck that there were no reports of such an incident and dismissed the story as a hoax.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 12, 2016
- ✕Hoax
Apple ID ‘Security Notice’ Phishing Scam
The email is not from Apple. It is a phishing scam designed to steal your Apple ID credentials and other personal and financial information. There are many versions of this scam message.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 12, 2016
- ✕Hoax
‘New Hackers in the Speed’ Facebook Warning
The threat described in the warning is valid and is a technique known as ‘cloning’. Facebook users certainly should be aware of this threat and know how to protect themselves from it. However, it can not be accurately described as ‘hacking’.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 12, 2016
- ✕Hoax
Candy Crush Invites Murder Story is Satire, Not Real News
The story is fiction and not meant to be taken seriously. The supposed murder described in the report never took place. The story originates from the satirical website, The Vally Report. Nothing published on The Valley Report should be taken seriously.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 11, 2016
Entries are collected from public fact-checking sites and link back to the original article.