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.
1,802 fact-checks
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Incredible Music Machine Prank – University of Iowa
A video that supposedly shows an incredible music machine created out of farm equipment is circulating via email and online. The video itself is certainly an incredible and inspiring piece of work.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Oct 29, 2009
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Bogus Microsoft Critical Upgrade Notification Email
The email is not from Microsoft. The claim that a critical security issue has been discovered on the recipient’s computer is untrue. Those who click the link in the message will be taken to a bogus website where they may be tricked into downloading malware.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Sep 9, 2009
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Tow Bikes – Converted Motorbikes That Can Tow Vehicles
These photographs circulate via email and have also been posted to numerous blogs, online forums and social networking websites. The photographs are genuine.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Aug 14, 2009
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Big Slip – Giant Water Slide Jump Video
This video supposedly shows one brave soul – German engineer Bruno Kammerl – shooting down a giant plastic water slide before rocketing high into the air off a ramp at the end of the slide and landing safely in a small kiddie pool high on the hill.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Aug 14, 2009
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Bell Canada Phishing Scam Email
This email, which purports to be from major Canadian telecommunications company Bell Canada, claims that due to a problem with a recent bill payment, the recipient is required to update his or her billing information or risk an interruption of service.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Aug 7, 2009
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Alarmist and Inaccurate Swine Flu Warning
According to this emailed warning message, H1N1 (swine flu) is currently wiping out entire villages in parts of Asia and has already mutated into a more deadly strain.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Jul 31, 2009
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Overdue Payments Advance Fee Scam
Summary: Message claims that the recipient is owed payments of $5.5 million and he or she should contact a specified “representation officer” to arrange transfer of the funds.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Jul 30, 2009
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Woolworths Two Hundred And Fifty Rand Cookie Recipe Hoax
This message supposedly tells the delicious tale of how one ordinary customer takes revenge on an unscrupulous company by distributing free copies of a cookie recipe for which he or she was charged an exorbitant fee because of a misunderstanding about the…
Hoax-Slayer · English · Jul 15, 2009
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Nigerian Computer Scientist Advance Fee Scam
This email message claims to be from a computer scientist named Adekunle Elvis who works at a bank in Nigeria. “Adekunle” claims that he has found and examined the recipient’s file at the bank and discovered that a large sum of money that was supposed to be…
Hoax-Slayer · English · May 5, 2009
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Fake Facebook Login Phishing Scam
Facebook users have been receiving messages like the one below that are designed to trick them into providing their Facebook login details to Internet criminals.
Hoax-Slayer · English · May 1, 2009
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Corpus Christi – Gay Jesus Movie Hoax
The claims in the message are false. No such movie is about to be released or is in production at the time of writing. In fact, there is no evidence to suggest that such a film is even being considered at this time.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Apr 3, 2009
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Karl Marx Quote on Credit Crisis
This message claims to contain an amazingly prescient quote from Karl Marx, supposedly written in 1867, in which he predicts the causes and ramifications of the current world economic crisis.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Apr 2, 2009
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Do Not Call – Mobile Phones Going Public Hoax
False – Note however that while the claims in the email about the release of mobile phone numbers are untrue, the “Do Not Call” register itself is real and perfectly legitimate. Read the detailed analysis below for more information.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 20, 2009
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Delta Air Lines Passenger Itinerary Receipt Malware Emails
The email is not from Delta Air Lines. Following links or opening attachments in the email can install malware that may allow criminals to control the compromised computer and steal personal and financial information.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 12, 2009
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Air Force One Tail Number Hoax
This image of Air Force One depicts the aircraft’s tail number as “N166ER”, a combination of letters and numbers that can be read as a well-known racist epithet.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 9, 2009
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Islamic Punishment Protest Email – Photos of Boy’s Arm Being Crushed Under Car Wheel
While the photographs themselves are genuine, the event they show had nothing whatsoever to do with Islamic law and was not a punishment for stealing. In reality, the stunt was a street performance conducted for the entertainment of onlookers.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 12, 2009
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Sleeper Virus – Downadup or Conficker Worm Warnings
This story was first published in January 2009. Back in 2009, messages that circulating via email, blogs, and online communities were warning computer users about a “sleeper” virus dubbed the “Downadup” or “Conficker” worm.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Jan 26, 2009
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Bloody Mary Curse Chain Email
A Note for Younger Readers The Bloody Mary email is just a silly story that people have sent around for a long time. Don’t worry, absolutely nothing whatsoever will happen to you if you don’t send the emails to others.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Dec 31, 2008
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Burundanga Business Card Drug Warning
The message is an unsubstantiated urban legend. Burundanga is a real drug and reports indicate that it has indeed been used to facilitate crimes, especially in the South American nation of Colombia.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Oct 12, 2008
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Internet Rumour – UNESCO Chooses Indian National Anthem as Best In The World
The claims in the message are false. UNESCO has made no such announcement. According to this story, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), has announced that the Indian National Anthem is the best in the world © The story…
Hoax-Slayer · English · Sep 25, 2008
Entries are collected from public fact-checking sites and link back to the original article.