Current Netlore: Crime
Internet hoaxes, email rumors and urban legends
HIV Needles on Gas Pump Handles
More needle-stick incidents, this time centered in Jacksonville, Florida.
HIV Needles in Movie Theater Seats
"Welcome to the world of AIDS." Another round of needle-stick incidents.
HIV Needles in Pay Phone Coin Slots
Are drug addicts everywhere trying to kill us all with their dirty syringes?
HIV Needles in Vending Machines - Canada
Is a bizarre cult in western Canada booby-trapping the coin slots of Coke machines with HIV-tainted needles?
How to Avoid Speeding Ticket Penalties
Email touts a too-good-to-be-true scheme for preventing points from being assessed against your driving record.
How to Detect a Two-Way Mirror
Is there a simple way to tell whether or not that mirror in the public restroom is real?
'In Case of Emergency' (ICE) Campaign
Email flier touts a new personal safety campaign called 'ICE,' or 'In Case of Emergency,' consisting of storing a special emergency contact number in your mobile phone.
IRS 'E-Audit' Scam Warning
Erroneous alert warns of a supposed tax scam being conducted by email.
IRS Tax Refund Phishing Scam
Fraudulent emails purporting to originate from the IRS aim to trick users into revealing personal information.
Jamie Bulger's Killers to Be Released (Petition)
Outdated email petition decries the release from prison of murderers Jon Venables and Robert Thompson.
Joe Arpaio, 'Tough Guy' Sheriff
Email flier recounts the controversial accomplishments of 'tough-guy' Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Arizona.
Jokerkid613/Ja$on MoNeY State Police Warning
"If a person with the screen name of jokerkid613/Ja$on MoNeY contacts you, do not reply. DO not talk to this person; do not answer any of his/her instant messages or email..."
Jury Duty Scam
Forwarded email alert warns of a new identity theft scam wherein potential victims are falsely notified that they have failed to appear for jury duty and asked to supply personal info for verification.
Kidney Thieves
The venerable organ snatching legend erupts in Austin, Texas. This hysterical warning is a hodgepodge of various mutations of the legend cut-and-pasted together.
The Klingerman Virus
Not your ordinary bogus virus alert. This one's about a (supposedly) real, live bug that is fatal to human beings!
The Knockout Perfume Scam
It seems bands of thieves in major cities across the U.S. are having spectacular success getting women to sniff ether-tainted perfume samples.
'Lock Bumping' Video
Forwarded emails link to videos demonstrating a breaking-and-entering technique used by criminals known as lock bumping or key bumping.
Lottery Winnings
SCAM: There are umpteen versions of this "winning notification" scam claiming that recipients have won huge cash prizes but must contact a "representative" or "agent" of the lottery program before said funds can be released. Like the ubiquitous Nigerian 4-1-9 Scam, this is a form of advance fee fraud. "Winners" who respond are asked to pay a fee up front in order to collect their nonexistent prize.
LSD & Strychnine on Pay Phone Buttons
More pay phone hysteria, courtesy of the Internet.
Mall Abduction Scams on 'Inside Edition'
This "warning to women" claims that elaborate scams are being used by abductors to lure female shoppers out of malls and into waiting vans.
Mass Hacker Attack on Sunday, July 6
Security experts say they have 'credible evidence' that hackers/crackers are planning a simultaneous attack on as many as 6,000 Websites in a single day.
Mexican Mafia Targeting Blacks in LA Freeway Shootings
Email rumor claims the Mexican Mafia is responsible for a recent spate of Los Angeles freeway shootings and is specifically targeting black men in white t-shirts in retaliation for the theft of cocaine.
Money Seized in Mexican Drug Raid (Photos)
Emailed photos show a huge cache of money totalling $207 million seized from Mexican drug dealers in 2007.
Monkeyman935 - State Police Warning
He's killed 56 women already! Don't answer emails from Monkeyman935!!!
Nigerian Business Offer
Beware of messages from Nigerians offering you a million dollars or more for agreeing to be their "business partner."
Prisoners Escape New Orleans Jails After Hurricane Katrina
Forwarded email warns of escaped prisoners unleashed on Louisiana and beyond by Hurricane Katrina.
'Progesterex' - New Date Rape Drug
According to this false email alert, there's a new date rape drug that permanently sterilizes female victims.
Purse Snatchings Result in Near-Decapitation
This email tells us that female victims are suffering broken necks, near-decapitation and even death in the course of purse snatching crimes.
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.
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.
'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.
Safety Tips for Sniper Attacks
Anonymous email flier purportedly written by an actual SWAT sharpshooter advises ordinary citizens on how to avoid becoming the Beltway sniper's next target.
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.
Shopping Mall Crime Victims Forced to Disrobe
As if women didn't already have enough reasons never to go out alone.
Slavemaster Warning
2001 variant of a year-old rumor based partly on fact about a Net stalker/murderer who called himself "Slavemaster."
Spunkball Warning
Teenagers across America, we're told, are tossing firebombs into randomly selected vehicles.
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.
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."
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.
SweetCaliGuy4evr Warning
Latter-day variant of "Slavemaster" warnings circulating since 2000.
Timothy McVeigh: Boycott "His" Book!
Email urges recipients not to make a "hero" of the Oklahoma City bomber by buying a book about him.
U.S. Bank Email Scam
Spam email masquerades as a message from U.S. Bank requesting personal information from its customers. Don't bite!
Wal-Mart Check Copying Scam
Emailed alert written on Louisiana Dept. of Public Safety stationary warns of a 'multi-city' check copying scam run by a ring of Wal-Mart employees.
