Resources:
• The Top 25: Most popular topics of the past week
• Definitions: Hoax, rumor, urban legend
• How to Submit: Contribute a suspected hoax / legend
New & Updated Pages:
Facebook Privacy Notice
Viral text purports to protect the privacy and intellectual property rights of Facebook members who copy and paste it to their walls. (Added 06/11/13)
Supermoon on June 23, 2013
The full moon at perigee (closest approach to earth) on June 23, 2013, called a "supermoon," will be the largest and closest full moon of the year. (Added 06/10/13)
DOJ & FBI Raid News Media Offices
Viral "news story" claims agents of the FBI and DOJ raided the offices of the National Report after a scathing story was published about President Obama. (Added 06/08/13)
Photo of Mystery Vietnam War Dog Tag
Viral image shows a dog tag recently found in Khe Sanh, Vietnam bearing the name and service number of a U.S. Marine. (Added 06/08/13)
Shark Warnings in California and New Jersey
Flyers warn of great white shark attacks off the coasts of northern California and the Jersey Shore. (Added 06/07/13)
'Zeus' Facebook Virus Steals Money from Your Bank Account
NOT a Hoax: A dangerous Trojan horse program called "Zeus" capable of sniffing out passwords on infected PCs and using them to steal money from users' bank accounts is "alive and well" on Facebook. (Added 06/05/13)
The Escherian Stairwell
Viral video purports to document an endless 'Escherian' staircase at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York. (Added 06/05/13)
Lowe's Selling American Flag Doormats
Viral text claims Lowe's home improvement stores are selling American flag doormats and expresses outrage on behalf of U.S. veterans. (Updated 05/30/13)
Monsanto Cucumbers Cause Genital Baldness
Viral text claims that research done at Dalhousie University shows that consuming genetically modified cucumbers from Monsanto Inc. may result in "total groin hair loss" and bedwetting. (Added 05/29/13)
Video of Mermaid Sighting
Viral video purports to show an actual mermaid sighting by amateur photographers in Kiryat Yam, Israel. (Added 05/28/13)
Seeking Facebook Likes & Share to Help Deformed Child
Cynical hoax solicits shares, likes, and comments on the pretext of donating money to defray the medical expenses of a deformed child. Added 05/25/13)
Picture of a 'Grave Cage'
Were iron cages placed over graves during the Victorian era to prevent vampires and zombies from returning from the dead? (Added 05/18/13)
Eminem Stabbed 4 Times in NYC!!
Scam postings purport to link users to a video showing rapper Eminem being stabbed by a crazed fan in New York City. (Added 05/15/13)
Rare Golden Zebra
Viral image of Zoe, a rare golden zebra with burnt-orange stripes and blue eyes. (Added 05/08/13)
NRA President: 'Only a Matter of Time Before We Can Own Colored People Again'
Viral "news article" claims incoming NRA president Jim Porter predicted a return to black slavery. (Added 05/08/13)
Nancy Pelosi: Miss Lube Rack 1955
Viral image purports to show a young Nancy Pelosi (née Nancy D'Alesandro) posing in a bathing suit in an auto repair shop as "Miss Lube Rack 1955." (Added 05/03/13)
Facebook Will End on May 15, 2013
Viral "news story" claims Facebook will end on May 15, 2013 because founder Mark Zuckerberg finds managing the company "too stressful." (Added 04/28/13)
The Death of David Gregory
Chain letter circulating via social media claims 16-year-old David Gregory was found dead in a sewer after reading the message without reposting it. (Added 04/26/13)
Winged Spider Discovered
Viral image purports to show a newspaper clipping confiming that scientists have discovered a "winged spider." (Added 04/24/13)
Police Officer Delivers Milk During Boston Lockdown
Viral image shows a police officer delivering milk to a family with a 16-month-old son in Watertown during the citywide lockdown after the Boston Marathon bombings. (Added 04/23/13)
Mr. Rogers Quote: 'Look for the Helpers'
A viral quote that commonly circulates in the wake of tragic public events is attributed to kids' show host Fred Rogers. (Added 04/17/13)
Pic: Man Had Planned to Propose to Deceased Boston Bombing Victim
Caption of viral image showing a man in a red shirt tending a female victim of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings says he had planned to propose to her as she crossed the finish line. (Added 04/16/13)
Pic of 8-Year-Old Girl Killed in Boston Marathon Bombings
Viral image supposedly shows an 8-year-old girl killed in terrorist bombings at the 2013 Boston Marathon. (Added 04/16/13)
'Rarest Meteor Shower' April 22, 2013
Internet postings claim one of the 'rarest' meteor showers will occur on April 22, 2013, with a predicted number of about 20 meteors per minute. (Added 04/12/13)
Joel Osteen Resigns, Leaves Christian Faith
Viral "news article" claims Joel Osteen has renounced the Christian faith and resigned as Pastor of Lakewood Church. (Added 04/08/13)
'Money Bags' Chain Letter
Viral message claims that only once ever 823 years does the month of March have 5 Fridays, 5 Saturdays, and 5 Sundays, a phenomenon supposedly called "money bags." (Added 03/19/13)
Don't Pump Gas on April 15
Updated gas boycott flier urges drivers to avoid buying gas for one day, April 15, 2013, to force fuel prices lower and punish Middle Eastern oil companies. (Updated 03/12/13)
Facebook 'Graph App' and Privacy
Viral postings claim Facebook's new "Graph App" (Graph Search) will compromise members' privacy by making all their photos, comments and likes visible to total strangers. (Added 03/09/13)
Giant Spider in Manchester
Viral image purports to show a huge, long-legged spider lurking in the corner of a house in Manchester, England. (Added 03/08/13)
Young Frances Bavier ('Aunt Bee')
Viral image purportedly shows the young Frances Bavier (the actress who played Aunt Bee on The Andy Griffith Show) as a pin-up model. (Added 03/06/13)
Five Nuclear Carriers at Norfolk Naval Station
Viral message claims five nuclear carriers were docked at once at Norfolk Naval Station in Feb. 2013 for routine inspections, allegedly a breach of military protocol and the first time this has happened since WWII. (Added 03/02/13)
Spider in Oreo Cookie
Viral image purports to show a spider found smashed inside an Oreo Cookie. (Added 03/01/13)
Facebook Jail
Viral postings advise Facebook users against clicking the "Not Now" button when receiving friend requests to avoid sending the requesting member to "Facebook Jail." (Added 03/01/13)
Last Time They Were Seen Alive
Slideshow: Bogus images purport to show average people as they looked mere moments before they met their doom. (Added 02/28/13)
Bottle Bombs / Drano Bombs
Viral alerts warn recipients to beware of 'bottle bombs,' homemade explosive devices consisting of water, Drano, and aluminum foil in plastic bottles. (Updated 02/21/13)
