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 Closed for Maintenance Feb. 29th - 31st
Prank posting says Facebook will be closed for maintenance on the nonexistent dates of Feb. 29th, 30th, and 31st, 2013. (Added 02/08/13)
Capri Sun Mold Warning
Viral image shows a glob of mold found in a pouch of Capri Sun fruit drink in Feb. 2013. Similar incidents have been reported previously. (Added 02/06/13)
Ann Coulter Refuses to Board Plane with Black Pilot
"News article" shared via social media claims conservative pundit Ann Coulter refused to board a commercial airline flight after learning the pilot was African American. (Added 02/01/13)
Top 10 Funniest Celebrity Responses to Fake Death Reports
Finding out that everyone on the Internet except you knows you're dead can ruin your whole day! (Added 01/30/13)
HIV+ Needles Hidden Under Gas Pump Handles
Viral alert warns that evildoers are exposing unsuspecting victims to the AIDS virus by attaching HIV-contaminated needles to gas pump handles. (Updated 01/26/13)
Facebook Profile Hacker Warning
Rumor warns of a "new" Facebook security threat, namely hackers stealing profile pictures to create fake accounts and impersonate other members. (Added 01/25/13)
'Clarissa' Chain Letter
The story of Clarissa, a little girl who ended up in a mental hospital after killing her parents. She died there. If you don't share this story, her ghost will kill you, too. (Added 01/18/13)
Thank You for All Your Educational Posts
A viral spoof recapping all the scary viral messages people have shared via email and social media for the past year (and longer). (Added 01/12/13)
'New' Car Break-in Method: Hole Under Door Lock
Viral alert warns of a vehicle burglary method wherein thieves punch a small hole under the handle of a car door to unlock it. (Added 01/07/13)
Bookworm vs. Bookworm
From Peter Kohler: When a bookworm (a lover of books) meets a bookworm (an eater of books), only mayhem can ensue. (Added 12/27/12)
Top 10 Urban Legends of 2012
Here, in ascending order of popularity as gauged by site traffic and reader interest, are the Top 10 Urban Legends, Rumors, and Internet Hoaxes of 2012. (Added 12/26/12)
Facebook Attempts to Ban Nativity Picture
Viral wall posting claims Facebook is asking members to remove an imsge depicting the nativity of Jesus Christ on the grounds that it's offensive. (Added 12/22/12)
Donner, Donder or Dunder?
In which we go back to the original sources to try to figure out the correct name of Santa's seventh reindeer. (Added 12/19/21)
Morgan Freeman on Connecticut School Shootings
Comments blaming a "sensationalist media" for the Dec. 14, 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut are falsely attributed to actor Morgan Freeman. (Added 12/17/12)
Christmas Cards for Dalton Dingus
Circulating via social media, a chain letter requesting Christmas cards for 9-year-old Dalton Dingus, a terminally ill cystic fibrosis patient who hopes to set a Guinness World Record for most Christmas cards received. (Added 12/14/12)
Ants in the Brain
Doctors looking for the cause of severe headaches and facial itching in a young child discover that ants have crawled in his ear and infested his brain. (Added 11/28/12)
Facebook Copyright Notice
Viral text containing legalese about privacy and copyright purports to protect Facebook members against unauthorized use and distribution of their content. (Added 11/26/12)
Parodies of 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
A collection of online parodies of the famous 19th-century Christmas poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas." (Updated 11/23/12)
Monkey Orchid
Viral image depicts a so-called Monkey Orchid, an unusual flower with features reminiscent of the face of a monkey or baboon. (Added 11/21/12)
'Postcard from Hallmark' Virus Warning
Hoax alert warns of "the worst virus ever" circulating in the form of an attachment labeled "POSTCARD" or "POSTCARD FROM HALLMARK." (Updated 11/16/12)
Gerber Banana Baby Food Recall
Social media postings urge consumers to return all Gerber Banana Baby Food with expiration date of 2012 to the place of purchase because the products may contain glass. (Updated 11/14/12)
George W. Bush Accidentally Voted for Obama
Viral "news story" claims former President G.W. Bush got confused and mistakenly voted for Barack Obama in the 2012 presidential election. (Added 11/08/12)
'Straight Ticket' Voting Alert
Viral messages warn that checking "all Democrats" or "all Republicans" on electronic ballots may cause the voter's presidential choice to be excluded. (Added 11/06/12)
Fake Hurricane Sandy Photos
View our slideshow of the worst, wildest, wackiest fake photos circulating in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. (Added 10/31/12)
Spider Warning: The Two-Striped Telamonia
Recycled email hoax warns of the dangers of the Two-Striped Telamonia spider (Telamonia dimidiata), purportedly a poisonous specimen from Indonesia that hides under toilet seats and is responsible for the deaths of five people in North Florida. Updated 10/25/12)
Paper-on-Rear-Window Carjacking Scheme
Viral rumor warns of a new carjacking scheme involving the placement of a flyer or piece of paper on the victim's rear window to fool them into exiting the vehicle with the engine running. (Updated 10/25/12)
Obama Salutes Russian National Anthem but Not Our Own
Paired images purport to show President Obama saluting during the Russian national anthem and refusing to salute during the U.S. anthem. (Added 10/22/12)
Dire Election Prediction
Viral postings warn that within a week of the coming presidential election, banks will be closed and "soldiers marching in the streets." (Added 10/18/12)
Blue Cross on Medicare Premium Increases
Viral text claims a provision in the 2009 ObamaCare legislation will cause Medicare insurance premiums to increase to $247.00 per month by 2014. (Added 10/17/12)
Obama's Ring Says 'No God but Allah'
Various sources claim President Obama's wedding ring is inscribed with the Muslim saying "No God but Allah" in Arabic. (Added 10/11/12)
Obama's 923 Executive Orders
Viral text claims President Obama signed 923 executive orders in the first 40 months of his presidency, many times more than any other president to date. (Added 09/25/12)
Obama Redesigns the U.S. Flag
Viral rumor alleges that Barack Obama has redesigned the U.S. flag to insert his campaign logo in the midst of the stars and stripes. (Added 09/23/12)
Facebook Privacy Settings
Viral wall postings purport to instruct Facebook members on how to change privacy settings so their comments and likes won't be publicly visible. (Added 09/19/12)
Obama's 19-Year-Old Son Appears at DNC
"News story" circulating virally via Facebook and other social media claims President Obama has a 19-year-old son named Luther who appeared onstage with his father at the 2012 Democratic National Convention. (Added 09/14/12)
Still Not Dead: Adam Sandler
Recurring Internet rumors claim comic actor Adam Sandler died in a snowboard accident. (Updated 09/10/12)
Alligator Swims by Stranded Motorist in Hurricane Isaac
Viral image purports to show an alligator (or crocodile) circling a stranded car during flooding caused by Hurricane Isaac. (Added 08/30/12)
Hurricane Isaac Photo
Viral image purports to show Hurricane Isaac approaching landfall off the coast of Florida. (Added 08/27/12)
Bacon-Flavored Diet Coke
Viral image of a can of "Diet Coke with Bacon" is accompanied by claims that such a product really exists. (Added 08/23/12)
NASA Predicts 'Total Blackout' in Dec. 2012
Rumor circulating on Facebook claims that NASA has predicted a "total blackout" Dec. 23-25, 2012 due to an "alignment of the universe" during which the earth will "shift dimensions," etc. (Added 08/22/12)
Mitt Romney: 'I Was Too Important to Go to Vietnam'
Viral quote attributed to 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney: "I was too important to go to Vietnam. I had a greater purpose in life." (Added 08/21/12)
Ann Romney on Equal Pay for Women
Circulating via social media, a statement attributed to Ann Romney, wife of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, dismissing workplace equality as "detrimental to the future of women." (Added 08/20/12)
Double Sunrise / Double Sunset on Mars?
This image purportedly beamed to earth by NASA's Curiosity rover shows a "double sunrise" or "double sunset" as seen from the surface of Mars. (Added 08/16/12)
Caroline Kennedy on Obama
Circulating via social media, a quote attributed to Caroline Kennedy: "I can’t stand to hear his [Obama’s] voice anymore. He’s a liar, and worse." (Added 08/09/12)
HMS Romney
Social media postings make much of the name of a 50-gun warship sent to the American colonies in 1768 to enforce British tax policies: HMS Romney. (Added 08/08/12)
Blue Moon - August 2012
Circulating via social media, a viral text claiming there will be two full moons during the month of August 2012, the second of which (occurring August 31) will be a "blue moon." (Added 08/06/12)
McDonald's & KFC Signs Support Chick-fil-A?
Circulating via social media, alleged photos of McDonald's and KFC sign boards declare support for Chick-fil-A's stand against gay marriage. (Added 07/30/12)
Obama's 'Foreign Student' ID Found?
Circulating via email and social media, this image purports to be a scan of Barack Obama's "foreign student" ID issued by Columbia University in 1981. (Added 07/27/12)
Obama Snubs D-Day Memorial?
Online rumor claims Barack Obama is the only president since World War II to skip visiting the D-Day monument in Normandy. (Added 07/19/12)
Romney: 'Of Course I'll Win, I'm the White Guy'
Rumor circulating via social media claims presidential candidate Mitt Romney explained his confidence in an electoral victory over Barack Obama as follows: "Of course I'll win, I'm the white guy." (Added 07/14/12)
Michelle Obama: 'All This for a Damn Flag?'
Viral video purports to show First Lady Michelle Obama whispering 'All this for a damn flag?' in President Obama's ear during a flag folding ceremony on the anniversary of 9/11. (Added 07/12/12)
Back to the Future: June 27, 2012
Viral image circulating via social media purports to show the future date selected for a visit by the time travelers in Back to the Future II as June 27, 2012. (Added 06/28/12)
Obama's Law License
Viral text claims President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama surrendered their Illinois law licenses to escape criminal prosecution. (Added 06/27/12)
Black Lion
Viral image shared via social media purports to document the existence of an all-black lion. (Added 06/22/12)
Sharks in Kuwait Mall / Scientific Center
Viral image purportedly shows sharks swimming near an escalator in a Kuwait mall, scientific center, or subway (depending on version). (Added 06/20/12)
Neal Boortz 'Commencement Speech'
Viral text purports to be a commencement address delivered to graduating students at Texas A&M University by radio talk show host Neal Boortz. (Added 05/30/12)
Tick Removal Tip
Text circulating via forwarded email and social media recommends using a cotton ball dipped in liquid soap as an easy method of tick removal. (Added 05/26/12)
Lowe's Selling American Flag Doormats
Viral text expressing outrage on behalf of U.S. veterans claims Lowe's home improvement stores are selling American flag doormats. (Added 05/24/12)
Super-Skinny Fashion Models
Viral images purport to show grotesquely thin fashion models in runway shows and posing for photographs. (Updated 05/24/12)
The Difference Between Obama and Romney
Paired images contrast President Obama, depicted as a "man of the people" fist-bumping a janitor, with Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, a "man of wealth and privilege" receiving a shoeshine on an airport tarmac. (Added 05/19/12)
Vengeful Dentist Pulls Out All of Ex-Boyfriend's Teeth
News story claims a Polish dentist took revenge on her cheating boyfriend by sedating him and pulling out all of his teeth. (Added 05/11/12)
Lincoln Invented Facebook in 1845
Viral blog post claims Abraham Lincoln filed a patent on an analog version of Facebook in the mid-19th century. (Added 05/09/12)
Obama's Air Force One
Online postings claim President Obama replaced the American flag on the tail of Air Force One with his own campaign logo and slogan at a cost to taxpayers of $500,000. (Added 05/03/12)
Mitt Romney's Character
Circulating via email and social media, details of Mitt Romney's participation in efforts to locate and rescue the missing daughter of business colleague Robert Gay in 1996. (Added 05/02/12)
Missing Person: Ashley Flores
Chain emails and online postings seek help locating Ashley Flores, a 13-year-old girl allegedly missing in Philadelphia (or elsewhere). (Updated 05/02/12)
'Internet Doomsday' on July 9, 2012?
Viral warnings say hundreds of thousands of people may lose Internet access in July thanks to the "DNS Changer" malware. (Added 04/29/12)
'Invitation Facebook' Virus Warning
Forwarded messages warn of an attachment called "Invitation FACEBOOK" which allegedly harbors a virus that opens an Olympic torch that burns your hard drive. (Updated 04/27/12)
Cheating at the Gas Pumps
Email rumor claims a consumer was cheated by a rigged gas pump while refueling at a BP service station in Cartersville, Georgia (or Chatham, Georgia, or Ridgetown, Ontario, depending on version). (Updated 04/24/12)
Facebook Hoax: Share This Message to Help Infant Burn Victim
Circulating via social media, a viral appeal to share a photo of an infant burn victim to whom Facebook will allegedly donate $3 per online share, or $1 per "like." (Added 04/10/12)
Rick Santorum: 'I Will Ban Gay Pornography'
Viral quote attributed to Republican primary candidate Rick Santorum says he will ban all pornography, especially gay pornography, if elected, the only issue he sees "eye to eye on with the Taliban." (Added 04/04/12)
Mega Millions Lottery Winner Splits Proceeds via Facebook
Facebook prank claims Mega Millions lottery winner will split proceeds with everyone who shares his update. (Added 04/01/12)
April Fools' Day - History & Origin
Notes on the origin and history of April Fools' Day, plus some memorable pranks from years past. (Updated 03/30/12)
Don't Pump Gas on April 15th
Recycled "gas boycott" flier urges drivers to avoid buying gas for one day, April 15, 2012, to force fuel prices lower and punish Middle Eastern oil companies. (Added 03/27/12)
Rainbow Owl
Photo circulating via social media purports to depict the rare "Rainbow Owl," an almost-extinct species native to both China and the western U.S. (Added 03/27/12)
