Current Netlore: A to Z Index, cont.

Internet hoaxes, email rumors and urban legends

# - B | C - G | H - K | L - P | R - Z

Rachel Arlington Chain Letter
Your chance to save another "dying child" who doesn't exist.

Racial Indicators in Social Security Numbers
Did the government secretly "color-code" your SSN? Plus, alleged racism in Microsoft software.

Rain Forest Petition
This petition to oppose a deforestation measure before Brazilian Congress is outdated and useless.

Rapist Impersonates Police Officer
A female student driving home from college foils a phony cop's attempt to pull her over by dialing #77 on her cell phone to contact the real police officer ahead of her.

Rat Droppings/Urine Cause Hawaiian Man's Death
A plausible scenario, but did this incident really happen?

Rat Urine on Soda Pop Cans Is Lethal
Three variations of a cautionary tale making the email rounds since 1998.

Ray Reynolds: The Rest of the Story in Iraq
Emailed letter written by Army National Guard SFC Ray Reynolds while on leave from duty in Iraq notes positive developments in that country since the start of the war.

Missing Child: Reachelle Marie Smith
Via forwarded email, details of the case of 3-year-old Reachelle Marie Smith, who was reported missing in May 2006.

Red Thomas: How to Protect Yourself Against Terrorist Attacks
"Armor Master" Red Thomas's long email explaining how to protect oneself against chemical, nuclear and biological weapons is authentic, but experts disagree as to its accuracy.

Remus Rodham: A Horse Thief by Another Name
Email euphemistically summarizes the life and times of 'Remus Rodham,' supposedly the great-great uncle of former First Lady Hillary Clinton and a horse thief and train robber to boot.

Rental Trucks Reported Stolen by Possible Terrorists
Dozens of Ryder, U-Haul and Verizon trucks have supposedly been reported stolen "in the past 24 hours" by possible terrorists.

Rebekah Tauber 'Prayer Pager' Request
Chain letter urges recipients to send prayers via 'prayer pager' for 17-year-old Rebekah Tauber of Houston, Texas, who is under treatment for cancer.

Red Cross Debit Card Photo Results in Fraud
According to this email tale, an AFP news photo containing a close-up of a Red Cross Debit Card issued to Hurricane Katrina victim Latesha Vinette instantly resulted in fraudulent charges on a massive scale.

Return of the Butt Spiders
Five women have died in North Florida after being bitten by a deadly Indonesian spider that migrated to the U.S. under the toilet seats of airliners.

Reverse PIN # to Contact Police in ATM Emergency?
Email rumor claims ATM users can contact police in the event of an attempted robbery by entering their PIN in reverse.

The Revocation of Independence
One of the funnier bits of Net satire poking fun at the interminable U.S. presidential election of 2000.

Rice for Peace
2003 email flier urges recipients who object to a U.S. war with Iraq to send small bags of rice marked "If your enemies are hungry, feed them" to President Bush.

Richard Reid - Sentencing of the 'Shoe Bomber'
Circulating via email: the text of U.S. District Court Judge William Young's statement castigating convicted terrorist "shoe bomber" Richard Reid during sentencing

Rick Connor Chain Letter
"David Lawitts" (or "Tamara Martin") by any other name.

Robby the Military Dog (Petition)
A sincere but misinformed effort to save a Marine Corps attack and detector dog from euthanization.

Robby and the Piano Teacher
A "musically challenged" piano student overcomes his lack of talent to play a brilliant recital in hopes that his recently deceased mother, born deaf, will "hear." But wait till you see the punchline...

Robert Matthews: A Tale of Inspiration on 9/11
A retired firefighter dies in the ruins of the World Trade Center after saving a pregnant woman, who goes on to name the child after her rescuer.

Robin Williams Paid Christopher Reeve's Medical Bills
Rumor circulating since 1996 claims that comedian Robin Williams, lifelong friend of actor Christopher Reeve, promised to pay all the medical bills resulting from the accident that left Reeve paralyzed.

Robin Williams' Plan for Peace
Sarcastic "peace plan" circulating by email since March 2003 is falsely attributed to comedian Robin Williams.

'Rockhard Abs / Jason Stallings' State Police Warning
Latest version of an old email hoax warns people not to reply to messages from a person using the screen name "Rockhard abs" or "Jason Stallings," supposedly a suspect in the murders of several women he met online.

Roll Your Own Blackout
Another email-driven protest, this one advocating power conservation through a voluntary blackout on June 21, 2001.

Rumsfeld to Kennedy: 'You're All Wet'
Satire mistaken for news: Donald Rumsfeld allegedly calls Senator Ted Kennedy "all wet" over accusations that the Bush administration misled the public about Iraq possessing weapons of mass destruction.

Sabrina Fair Allen: Missing Child
TRUE. Five-year-old Sabrina Allen was abducted by her non-custodial mother in April 2002 and remains missing.

Saddam Hussein's Capture
Emailed photos not released by the U.S. government show the December 2003 capture of Saddam Hussein in Tikrit, Iraq.

Sainsbury's Gift Voucher
Email hoax claims recipients will receive a free Sainsbury's gift voucher if they forward the message to 10 other people.

Salaries of Charity CEOs Compared
Email flier compares the salaries of top executives of U.S. charitable organizations.

'Sandstorm from Hell' in Al Asad (Photos)
Emailed photos evidently snapped by a U.S. soldier document a 'sandstorm from hell' at Al Asad airbase in Iraq on April 26, 2005.

Sandstorm Uncovers Hidden Iraqi Minefield
U.S. Marines are miraculously saved when a fierce desert sandstorm and torrential rains uncover a hidden Iraqi minefield.

Santa's Reindeer Are All Females
Is it true that male reindeer lose their antlers by December, therefore all of Santa's reindeer - including Rudolph - must be female?

Sarah Palin Banned Books List
Forwarded email purports to list books Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin attempted to have banned from the public library when she was Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska.

Sarah Palin in Bikini with Rifle (Photo)
Emailed image purports to show Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin posing for a photo wearing an American flag bikini and carrying rifle.

Sarah Palin Quotes
Circulating via email, a series of preposterous quotes attributed to Repubican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin on the subjects of evolution, oil drilling in ANWR, and Alaskans serving in the military in Iraq.

SARS Infects Restaurant Workers in Asian Neighborhoods
Variants of a widespread rumor claim the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) epidemic threatens local communities across North America via infected workers at restaurants and groceries in Chinatowns and other Asian neighborhoods.

Satellite Image of Northeast Blackout
Emailed photo purports to show satellite view of the 2003 east coast blackout.

Satellite Photos of Columbia Shuttle Explosion
These stunningly clear, close-up images purporting to show the Space Shuttle Columbia blowing up in orbit are circulating via email. Were they really taken by an Israeli spy satellite?

Save NPR and PBS (It's Real This Time)
AUTHENTIC: 2005 email flier from the political action group MoveOn.org urges recipients to sign an online petition to save NPR and PBS from defunding by Congress.

Save the Puppies!
Forward this message and save a puppy's life... or make a buck, it's unclear which.

SaveToby.com
Wherein it is claimed that a cute, fluffy bunny named Toby will be cooked and eaten unless his owner receives $50,000 by June 30, 2005.

School Science Fair Name-Gathering Project
Email chain letter soliciting the first names of recipients purports to be a school science fair project, but it's not.

Scrotum Self-Repair
Perhaps the most inventive use of an industrial staple gun you're ever likely to see. Grisly but true!

Send a Christmas Card to the ACLU
Forwarded email urges recipients to bombard the ACLU offices in New York with Christmas cards because "they are working so hard to get rid of Christmas."

Serena Williams Interview
Circulating via email: a purported interview with black tennis star Serena Williams in which she says dating white men is preferable to dating black men.

Serial Killer Lures Female Victims with Baby's Cries
Email rumor claims that a serial killer may be using a recording of a crying baby to trick lone women into opening their doors.

Serial Killer Poses as Good Samaritan Returning $5 Bill
Email rumor claims a man posing as a good samaritan attempted to gain entry to a woman's vehicle by "returning" a $5 bill she supposedly dropped. Was he the Baton Rouge serial killer?

Sex Offenders Among Hurricane Katrina Evacuees
Forwarded email claims there are 4,500 registered sex offenders among the Hurricane Katrina evacuees from New Orleans and blames a carjacking and rape committed in Acworth, Georgia on one of them.

Shakira's Anti-Israeli Slur
Did Latin American pop star Shakira really refer to Israelis as "pigs" during an MTV interview?

Shampoo Cancer Warning
This chain letter falsely claims that sodium laureth sulfate, an ingredient found in some brand-name shampoos, is carcinogenic.

Shane Bernier Chain Letter
Email chain letter solicits birthday cards for leukemia victim Shane Bernier of Lancaster, Ontario, who turns 8 years old on May 30, 2007 and hopes to set the Guinness World Record for number of cards received.

Shane (NOT Bernier) Chain Letter
Email chain letter requesting birthday cards for a young leukemia sufferer in Crystal Lake, Illinois (or Schuylerville, New York) named Shane so he can win a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records is a hoax.

Shark Attacks Helicopter!
Dramatic still photo shows a great white shark lunging out of the water towards a diver dangling precariously from low-flying helicopter.

Shark Sneaks Up Behind Divers (Photo)
Emailed image shows a massive shark looming behind two blissfully unaware scuba divers vacationing in Australia.

Sheriff Joe Arpaio
Email flier recounts the controversial accomplishments of 'tough-guy' Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Arizona.

'Shit,' Origin of
In which we are told with a straight face that the s-word originated as the acronym of "Ship High in Transit," supposedly a nautical phrase.

Shoes: Latest Fashions from Japan and Italy
Emailed photos of extremely uncomfortable-looking high-heel and platform shoes, allegedly the "latest fashions" from Japan and Italy.

Shopping Mall Crime Victims Forced to Disrobe
As if women didn't already have enough reasons never to go out alone.

Sinbad Is Dead
Fake Wikipedia entry claims American actor/comedian Sinbad died of a heart attack on March 14, 2007.

Sixth Grade Science Fair Project
A chain letter started by a sixth grade elementary school teacher as a science fair project. Don't bother responding - the email account has been canceled.

'Slave Reparations' Tax Credits
Con artists are taking advantage of "slave reparations" rumors to bilk black senior citizens of money and personal information.

Slavemaster
2001 variant of a year-old rumor based partly on fact about a Net stalker/murderer who called himself "Slavemaster."

'Slow Dance' Chain Letter
Smarmy poetry and another opportunity to help save the life of a dying child who doesn't exist.

The Snake in the Computer
Has your computer ever hissed at you? Here's a tale, complete with shocking photos, of a woman who probably wishes she'd called Animal Control instead of Tech Support when her PC began making strange noises.

A Snake Fishes for Its Prey (Photo)
Emailed image shows a very large snake (evidently a python) pulling its prey (evidently a wallaby, though some have labeled it a "cow") out of a body of water in Western Australia.

Snakes in a Potted Plant (Photos)
Emailed photos purport to show a nest of baby copperhead snakes found in the bottom of a plastic flower pot purchased at a grocery store.

Snake Swallows Man!
Series of photos purports to show a full-grown man being digested by a large snake.

Snake vs. Electric Fence (Photos)
Various tales, some taller than others, accompany shocking images of an unfortunate python who tangled with an electric fence and lost.

Snakes Kill Child in Burger King Ball Pit
Email warns of baby rattlesnakes hiding in restaurant playgrounds.

Snapple - Owned by Osama bin Laden?
Email rumor: Terrorist Osama bin Laden has financial ties to major corporations like Cadbury-Schweppes (makers of Snapple), General Electric and Motorola.

Sniper Attacks - Safety Tips
Anonymous email flier purportedly written by an actual SWAT sharpshooter advises ordinary citizens on how to avoid becoming the Beltway sniper's next target.

Snoop Dogg Converts to Mormonism
Phony Web page claims rapper Snoop Dogg has decided to convert to the Mormon faith.

Snowball, the Giant Mutant Cat
Photo of an Ontario man showing off his 87-pound housecat born near a nuclear reactor site.

'So I Volunteered' - Account of a Katrina Volunteer in Houston
Anonymous forwarded email purports to describe the experiences of a volunteer dealing with 'unappreciative' Hurricane Katrina evacuees at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.

Sony PSP Giveaway
Email hoax claims recipients will receive a free Sony PSP console if they forward the message to 20 other people.

Sour Spray Candy Warning
Forwarded email recounts an incident in which a child experienced a laryngospasm (involuntary closure of the larynx, obstructing breathing) after drinking sour spray candy directly from the container.

'Speeding Ticket Frenzy' in South Orange County
Email hoax claims the California Highway Patrol is launching a 'speeding ticket frenzy' in South Orange County to collect more fines and increase the state's revenues.

Spirit Airlines 'Free Flight' Chain Letter
Email hoax claims recipients will receive a free round-trip flight from Spirit Airlines if they forward the message to 5 other people.

Spunkball Warning
Teenagers across America, we're told, are tossing firebombs into randomly selected vehicles.

Square Watermelons (Photos)
Emailed pictures of square watermelons grown in special tempered glass cases by Japanese farmers.

Starbucks 'Free Drink' Coupon
Circulating via email, a printable coupon for a free iced grande beverage at Starbucks.

Starbucks vs. Israel
Is it true that specialty coffee chain Starbucks has closed all its stores in Israel, while still doing business in surrounding Arab countries?

Starbucks Refuses to Donate Coffee to U.S. Marines
Email flier accuses Starbucks of refusing to donate free coffee to U.S. Marines on the, er, grounds that the company is against the Iraq war "and anyone in it."

Static Electricity Causes Gas Pump Fires
MOSTLY TRUE: While a few of the claims in this email are erroneous, the Petroleum Equipment Institute has indeed issued a warning about the danger of static-caused fires while refueling automobiles.

Statue by Iraqi Artist 'Kalat' Pays Tribute to U.S. Soldiers
Emailed photos show a memorial statue by Iraqi artist Kalat honoring the American troops who liberated his country.

Statue of Liberty Is a Tribute to Black Slaves
Internet rumor prompts new research into Lady Liberty's past.

The Stella Awards
Introducing the Stella Awards for the most frivolous lawsuits in the U.S., purportedly named after 81-year-old Stella Liebeck, who was awarded damages for injuries sustained after spilling a cup of McDonald's coffee in her lap in 1994.

Steve 'Crocodile Hunter' Irwin a Born-Again Christian?
Email rumor claims 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin became a born-again Christian shortly before his death in September 2006.

Steven Spielberg to Make Film on the Crusades
Forwarded email claims Jewish filmmaker Steven Spielberg has announced he will make a gory movie about atrocities committed by Christians during the Crusades in response to Mel Gibson's allegedly anti-Semitic film, 'The Passion of the Christ.'

Steven Spielberg Letter to Mel Gibson
Circulating via email, a letter purportedly written by Steven Spielberg taking actor Mel Gibson to task for making anti-Semitic remarks during his arrest for drunk driving in August 2006.

Stolen License Plates Used in Gasoline Thefts
Forwarded email warns that criminals are stealing license plates and mounting them on their own vehicles to avoid being caught perpetrating 'pump and run' gasoline thefts.

The Story of 'Taps'
History and folklore collide in this email tale about the origin of this touching and famous bugle call.

Strange Boat (Photos)
Emailed images show a strange catamaran-like vessel consisting of a glass-walled cabin suspended over a pair of giant pontoons via tall, spidery legs.

Strawberry Meth Drug Warning
Email fliers warn of a new, candy-flavored form of methamphetamine targeted at young people called "strawberry meth" or "Strawberry Quick."

Street Paintings
Emailed photos show remarkably realistic 3-D street and sidewalk paintings. Are they real?

Stroke Test: Is It a Stroke?
TRUE: Email offers a useful test for identifying stroke victims consisting of three simple questions.

Sugar in the Gas Tank
Internet urban legend warns of a criminal ploy to disable women's vehicles by pouring sugar water in their gas tanks.

Sun and Moon Seen from North Pole (Photo)
Emailed image purportedly snapped at the North Pole in which the crescent moon appears to be many times larger than the setting sun.

SweetCaliGuy4evr Warning
Latter-day variant of "Slavemaster" warnings circulating since 2000.

Swiffer WetJet Toxic to Pets
Forwarded email claims that the Swiffer WetJet disposable floor cleaner contains a substance toxic to dogs and cats.

T. Bubba Bechtol on the Torture of Iraqi Prisoners
Email flier claims T. Bubba Bechtol, supposedly a part-time city councilman in Pensacola, Florida, was ejected from a radio studio for remarks defending the torture of Iraqi prisoners.

A Tale of Two Houses - Gore vs. Bush
Email flier compares the eco-friendliness of Al Gore's Nashville, Tennessee mansion to that of President George W. Bush's ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Tamara Martin Chain Letter
A rip-off of the "David Lawitts" chain letter above.

Tampax Pearl Tampons Warning
Anonymous email rumor claims loose fibers from Tampax Pearl tampons caused yeast infection and cervical bleeding in a user.

Target Bans Salvation Army Bell Ringers
Email fliers criticize Target Corporation for not allowing Salvation Army bell ringers on their premises at Christmas time.

Target Corp. Subsidiary Sells FCUK Brand Products
Email flier criticizes Target Corp. subsidiary Marshall Field's for marketing 'FCUK' brand fragrance and clothing to teenagers.

Target Stores vs. Vietnam Veterans
Does the Target Corporation consider Vietnam Veterans unworthy of its charitable support?

The Teacher (and Little Teddy Stoddard)
Inspirational - though fictional - story of little Teddy Stoddard, a disadvantaged child who blossomed under the influence of his teacher, Mrs. Thompson, and went on to become a successful doctor.

Texas Oil Rig Twister (Photo)
Emailed photo purportedly shows a huge nighttime tornado illuminated by a lightning bolt near an oil rig south of Ft. Stockton, Texas.

Texas State Quarter Recalled
Is the U.S. Treasury recalling the state quarters of Texas, Alabama, West Virginia and other states because they won't fit in parking meters and vending machines?

Thanks for the Chain Letters...
"IMPORTANT NOTE: If you send this email to at least 1,200 people in the next 10 seconds, a bird will crap on you today at 7 p.m."

Theodore Roosevelt on Immigrants
Emailed quotation in which Theodore Roosevelt insists that every immigrant must become 'an American, and nothing but an American,' forsaking their native language for English and all other flags for the American flag.

Thieves Clone Remote Key Codes to Unlock Cars
Forwarded email urges vehicle owners to lock their doors manually instead of using a remote key, otherwise thieves might be able to clone the security code and gain entry to the vehicle.

Thomas Sowell on the Presidential Candidates
Bigoted, poorly written email rant attributed to conservative black columnist Thomas Sowell trashes Democratic presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

Tiger Nurses Piglets (Photos)
Emailed snapshots taken at a zoo show a mother tiger nursing a brood of piglets costumed in tiger skins.

Tim Hortons Coffee Contains Nicotine
Email rumor claims Tim Hortons Coffee contains nicotine and poses a danger to smokers or those who are allergic to nicotine.

Timothy Flyte Chain Letter
A fictional (quite literally) character is dying of the dread disease "Ostriopliosis." Forward this chain letter to save his life.

Timothy McVeigh Book Boycott
Email urges recipients not to make a "hero" of the Oklahoma City bomber by buying a book about him.

Tips on Pumping Gas
Forwarded email purports to share a petroleum industry insider's tips for saving money at the gas pump.

Toilet Paper Shortage Predicted Due to California Fires
"News story" circulated via email claims a major toilet paper factory burned down in the recent southern California wildfires, causing a paper shortage and predicted "run" on TP.

'Toilet Spiders' Kill 5 in Chicago Airport
The deadly "arachnius gluteus" rears its ugly head across the U.S.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Email flier purports to describe the lifelong duties of the Honor Guard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Tommy Hilfiger Made Racist Statements on Oprah
That's what the email rumor claims, at any rate. This outright lie dates back several years.

'Touched by an Angel' Religious Broadcasting Petition
This petition, alleging that the FCC is under the spell of atheist Madalyn Murray O'Hair, is just as false now as it was 25 years ago.

Towboat Mishap
Remarkable photo vignette shows a river towboat colliding sideways with a bridge, rolling underneath it, and emerging intact on the other side.

Tow Truck Comedy of Errors
A photo vignette circulating via email shows a tow truck tumbling into the sea while attempting to salvage another tow truck that met the same fate while salvaging a wrecked car.

Toxic Sponges from P&G
A new email alert claims that "pot scrubbers" from P&G contain a toxic chemical.

Toxic Tampons
Two versions of this email alert are circulating, one more fraudulent than the other.

'Triangle of Life' Earthquake Survival Measures
Doug Copp's emailed advice on earthquake survival tactics entitled 'Triangle of Life' is disputed by search-and-rescue experts from the American Red Cross and elsewhere. Truck Art
Emailed images of purported examples of trompe l'oeil advertising on the side panels of truck trailers.

The Truth about the IRS
Hey, this one's kind of plausible!

Tsunami Live Photos
Emailed images purportedly show people running for their lives as the Indian Ocean tsunami washes ashore on December 26, 2004.

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).

Tupac Is Alive!
Hoax Web page circulating via email purports to be a CNN story revealing that murdered rapper Tupac Shakur is still alive and well and strolling the streets of Beverly Hills.

Two Moons on August 27
According to the latest version of an email rumor circulating since 2003, August 27 will bring the closest "encounter" between Mars and Earth in recorded history.

Ultra Clorox is Dangerous to Pets & Children
It contains lye, says the email rumor, and therefore is more hazardous than regular Clorox.

U.N. Petition to Stop World War III
This email petition purports to originate from the United Nations, which, curiously enough, disavows all knowledge of it.

Univ. of Kentucky Bans Holocaust Teaching
Email chain letter urges remembrance of the Holocaust, claiming the University of Kentucky has removed all mention of the event from its school curriculum for fear of offending Muslims.

Unlock Your Car Door with a Cell Phone
Locked out of your automobile? According to this forwarded email, you can have someone transmit a signal from your spare remote key via cell phone and unlock your car door in a pinch.

UPS Uniforms Purchased on eBay by Possible Terrorists
Despite a plethora of email alerts claiming that mysterious buyers have bought a large number of UPS uniforms on eBay at very high prices, both companies say they're unaware of any such transactions.

Up in Smoke!
The man who took out fire insurance... on his rare cigars.

U.S. Bank Email Scam
Spam email masquerades as a message from U.S. Bank requesting personal information from its customers. Don't bite!

U.S. Government to Monitor Employee Email in April
It either happened already on April 2 or will continue all month long, depending on which version of the email rumor you read.

U.S. Soldier Wears 'Doing the Work of...' Patch
Emailed photo shows a U.S. soldier wearing a black patch which reads 'Doing the work of...' above the flags of France, Germany and Russia.

USS New York, Warship Built Using WTC Scrap Steel
Forwarded email describes the USS New York, a Navy battleship built using 24 tons of scrap metal from the fallen towers of the World Trade Center.

The Value of Undies
Zipless variant of "The Unzipped Mechanic," a very old legend in which a woman mistakes a mechanic working under the family car for her husband and proceeds to give the man the surprise of his life.

Veterans' Dividends
Bogus offer to U.S. veterans involving alleged dividends on insurance policies.

Veuve Clicquot Champagne Freebie
Forward this message and Veuve Clicquot will send you a free case of French champagne!

Vicks VapoRub on Soles of Feet Relieves Coughing
Forwarded email claims that coughing in children can be stopped '100% of the time' by applying Vicks Vaporub to the bottoms of their feet and covering them with socks at bedtime.

Vicky Field's Prayer Request for Wounded Son
Prayer request chain letter from Vicky Field of Granbury, Texas asks for prayers on behalf of her son, Chad, a U.S. soldier injured in Iraq.

Victoria's Secret Giveaway
Forward this message and get a free gift certificate for silk undies!

'Video Clip' Chain Letter
The "coolest chain letter ever" claims that a funny video will appear on your screen if you forward it to 11 people.

Wall Street Bailout as Nigerian Scam
"Dear American, I need to ask you to support an urgent secret business relationship with a transfer of funds of great magnitude."

Wal-Mart Contributes 5% of Sales to Homosexual Group
Email flier from the American Family Association claims Wal-Mart contributes 5% of its sales to a homosexual group promoting same-sex marriage.

Wal-Mart Flip Flops Cause Skin Reaction
Emailed images show skin rash caused by Chinese-made rubber flip flops purchased at Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart Makes Employees Pay for Flag Displays
Is Wal-Mart too greedy and unpatriotic to pay for American flag displays at its stores?

Wal-Mart Partners with Gay Marriage Group
Email flier notifies Christians that retail giant Wal-Mart has formed a partnership with the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

Water Bridge Over Elbe River in Germany
Emailed photo of a "water bridge" over the Elbe River in Magdeburg, Germany.

Waterproof Sunscreen Causes Blindness in Children
Recycled 1998 warning alleges that children have gone blind due to exposure to waterproof sunscreens.

What to Do in Case of Snake Attack
Forwarded email purports to share instructions from a U.S. government Peace Corp manual on what to do if an anaconda or python attacks you in the wild.

What It Takes..?
The most outrageous college application essay ever written.

Why English Teachers Die Young
A list of fractured similes and metaphors allegedly found in high school essays by English teachers from across the country.

William Hung Dead of Heroin Overdose
According to Internet rumors, American Idol reject William Hung was found dead of an intentional heroin overdose in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Wingdings Prophecies
Microsoft's "Wingdings" font contains secretly encoded predictions of the World Trade Center terrorist attack.

Woman Catches Leptospirosis from Unwashed Coke Can
False email rumor claims a woman in North Texas (or Belgium, or Botswana, etc.) caught the deadly disease leptospirosis after drinking Coke straight from an unwashed can contaminated with dried rat urine.

Woman Finds Human Finger in Bowl of Wendy's Chili
From the "Things That Sound Like Urban Legends but Aren't" file: A woman dining at a Wendy's restaurant in San Jose, California got the shock of her life when she realized the odd-shaped piece of meat she had just bitten into in a spoonful of chili was a human finger.

'Women United Against War' Petition
Email petition falsely claims that a "Congresswoman Barbara Bell" led a walkout by 25 female members during the vote on a war powers resolution for President Bush.

'World's Largest Pink Ribbon' to Be Built with Post-It Notes
Email flier announces the building of the "World's Largest Pink Ribbon" on a billboard in Times Square by the 3M Corporation.

World's Tallest Woman
Emailed photos purport to show the world's tallest woman.

WTC Postage Stamp Commemorates 9/11
Emailed image is purportedly the artwork for a new stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service to commemorate the events of September 11, 2001.

WWII Memorial Inscription Omits 'So Help Us God' from Roosevelt Speech
Email flier claims the words 'so help us God' were purposely omitted from the World War II Memorial inscription of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's famous 'Day of Infamy' speech.

Xerox 'Let's Say Thanks' Web Site
Email fliers tout the Xerox Corporation's "Let's Say Thanks" Web site allowing citizens to send free cards to U.S. troops overseas.

Yahoo Messenger Petition
It was only a matter of time...

'You've Received a Postcard' Virus
REAL VIRUS: Messages with subject headers such as 'You've received a postcard from a school-mate!' etc. contain links to malicious Web pages.

Zicam Cold Remedy Warning
Anonymous email alert blames zinc-based nasal cold remedy Zicam for cases of anosmia (loss of the sense of smell).

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