• 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 as of 07/07/09:
Megan Fox Is a Man
Internet rumors claim voluptuous actress Megan Fox is either a man in drag (transvestite), a transsexual ('tranny'), or was born a hermaphrodite and underwent surgery to become a woman. (Added 07/06/09)
Raleigh Sewer Monster
"Unknown" or "alien" life form discovered deep in a Raleigh, NC sewer pipe. (Added 07/02/09)
Is John Dillinger's Willie Preserved at the Smithsonian?
Lonstanding rumor has it that the private parts of Prohibition-era gangster John Dillinger were preserved in a jar of formaldehyde and are still on display at the Smithsonian Institution. (Updated 07/01/09)
College Transripts Show Obama Attended as a Foreign Student
Purported AP news story claims transcripts released by Occidental College prove that Barack Obama, under the name 'Barry Soetoro,' received a Fulbright Scholarship awarded to foreign-born students only. (Added 06/22/09)
Toxic Benzene in Cars?
Forwarded email claims that car interiors contain toxic levels of cancer-causing benzene, which is used in the manufacture of dashboards, car seats, and air fresheners. It advises opening windows to expel trapped benzene before using the air conditioner or driving. (Added 06/20/09)
Air France Flight 447 Crash (Photos)
Circulating via email, photos purportedly taken inside the passenger cabin of Air France Flight 447 as it broke up over the Atlantic Ocean. (Updated 06/10/09)
Lou Pritchett's Open Letter to President Obama
Circulating via forwarded email, an open letter to President Obama by former Procter & Gamble executive Lou Pritchett enumerates the ways the newly-elected commander-in-chief scares him. (Added 06/09/09)
Rare Parrot Flower (Photos)
Circulating via email, authentic pictures of the rare parrot flower (Impatiens psittacina), which is native to northern Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), and northern India and bears a remarkable resemblance to its avian namesake. (Added 06/04/09)
S.B. 2099 - Bill Requiring Federal Tax on Guns
Nine-year-old email rumor claims a bill moving through Congress will require gun owners to declare all firearms on their income tax forms and pay $50 per gun to the federal government. (Updated 06/03/09)
H.R. 1388: Obama to Resettle Hamas Refugees in U.S.A.
Forwarded email claims President Obama has funded a $20 million resettlement of Hamas refugees to the United States via H.R. 1388, a bill supposedly passed 'behind our backs' by Congress. (Added 06/02/09)
Obama: No Military Personnel at Faith-Based Events
Forwarded email claims President Obama has initiated a policy stating that no U.S. serviceman can speak at any faith-based public events. (Added 05/28/09)
Marine Veterans Snubbed at Cracker Barrel Restaurant
Forwarded email recounts an incident at Cracker Barrel restaurant in Memphis, Tennessee in which a member of the Marine Corps League was denied permission to play patriotic songs on his bagpipes in honor of Memorial Day. (Added 05/27/09)
Fourth-Grade Teacher's Letter to Obama
An open letter to President Obama attributed to Hillsboro, Missouri elementary school teacher Kathleen Lyday expresses one citizen's vehement displeasure with the way the country is being run. (Added 05/27/09)
Interesting Facts About the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Widely circulated email flier purports to accurately describe the lifelong duties of the Honor Guard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. (Updated 05/22/09)
Ford Fusion Hybrid Car at Half Price
Scam email purporting to come from Ford Motor Company offers an opportunity to purchase a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid vehicle at half price ($15,500). (Added 05/20/09)
Ericsson 'Free Laptop' Promotion
Email chain letter claims phone manufacturer Ericsson will give away free laptop computers to those who forward the message to at least eight people. (Updated 05/12/09)
Juval Aviv Predicts New Terrorist Attacks
Emailed report citing predictions by security consultant Juval Aviv warns that multiple terrorist attacks will occur in U.S. cities "within the next few months" and offers emergency preparedness advice. (Added 05/11/09)
Mar in August
Emailed slideshow claims August 27 will bring the closest encounter between Mars and Earth in recorded history. Unfortunately, this "once in a lifetime event" already came and went in 2003. (Added 05/06/09)
Swine Flu Update from Dr. Gitterle
Forwarded email from Dr. Marcus Gitterle of New Braunfels, Texas claims that swine flu (H1N1 flu) is spreading far more rapidly than officials admit and has infected 10 to 25 times more people than reported in the media. (Added 04/30/09)
Asparagus and Cancer
Emailed article attributed to a biochemist offers medical case histories collected with the help of alleged cancer expert "Richard R. Vensal, D.D.S." purporting to prove that eating asparagus may prevent and/or cure cancer. (Added 04/29/09)
'Christopher Butterfield' Hacker Warning
"Hacker warning" circulating via forwarded email tells recipients not to accept messages or friend invitations from a supposed email hacker named Christopher Butterfield. (Added 04/28/09)
July 22 Tsunami Prediction
Forwarded email warns residents of Pacific and Indian Ocean islands to stay away from beaches during the solar eclipse on July 22, 2009 as a 'really bad' earthquake and tsunami are predicted. (Added 04/22/09)
Obama's Handling of the Hostage Crisis
Forwarded email criticizes Barack Obama's handling of the Somali pirate hostage crisis in April 2009, alleging that the President hindered the on-scene commander's ability to effect a rescue by withholding authorization to use deadly force. (Added 04/21/09)
Giant Wild Boar Shot in Conroe, Texas (Photos)
Emailed photos of a gigantic, 1,800-pound wild boar allegedly shot and killed in Conroe, Texas by a radiology technician. (Added 04/13/09)
Dumb Burglars Break Into Sperm Bank
Two robbers break into a bank expecting to steal diamonds and gold, but find what they believe to be a cache of freshly made vanilla pudding instead. (Added 04/09/09)
