1. Photos of Air France Flight 447 Crash
Circulating via email, photos purportedly taken inside the passenger cabin of Air France Flight 447 as it broke up over the Atlantic Ocean. Status: False
2. 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. Status: False
3. 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. Status: False
3. Add Cell Phones to Do Not Call Registry
Forwarded email warns that a directory of cell phone numbers will soon be published and urges users to enter their cell phone numbers on the federal Do Not Call Registry to prevent calls from telemarketers. Status: Mostly false
4. Sarah Palin Hot Pictures
Internet photos circulated during the 2008 presidential campaign purport to show Republican VP candidate Sarah Palin in a number of "sexy" outfits and poses. Status: Fake
5. Jamie Lee Curtis Is a Hermaphrodite
Longstanding rumors say actress Jamie Lee Curtis was born with male sex organs and underwent a sex change operation as an infant. Status: Dubious
6. Michael Jackson's Nose
Circulating again, an old rumor claiming that Michael Jackson wore a prosthetic nose which flew off and struck an audience member during a concert. Status: False
7. Breast Infestation (Photo / Video)
Emailed image and video purport to document the medical case of a female anthropologist who failed to seek treatment for a rash and wound up with an infestation of larvae in her breast. Status: Partly true
8. Sarah Palin Bikini Picture
Emailed image purports to show Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin posing for a photo sporting an American flag bikini and a rifle. Status: Fake
9. Mars in August
New variant of years-old email hoax repeats outdated claim that during the month of August the orbits of Mars and Earth will bring the two planets closer together than ever before in recorded history. Status: Outdated / False
10. SB-2099 - Bill Requiring Federal Tax on Guns
Nine-year-old email rumor claims a Senate bill has been secretly introduced which will require all U.S. citizens to list every gun they own on their federal income tax form. Status: Outdated / False
11. Giant Housecat (Photo)
Emailed photo of a really, really big housecat in the arms of a standard-sized human. Status: Authentic
12. Raleigh Sewer Monster
"Unknown" or "alien" life form discovered deep in a Raleigh, NC sewer pipe. Status: False
13. 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. Status: False
14. 'Postcard from Hallmark' Virus Warning
False email alert warns of "the worst virus ever" circulating in the form of an attachment labeled "POSTCARD" or "POSTCARD FROM HALLMARK." Status: See details
15. Mr. Rogers Was a Marine Sniper / Navy Seal
Internet rumors allege that mild-mannered children's TV show host Fred Rogers had a former secret career as a trained assassin. Status: False
16. Amazing 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). Status: Fake
17. Hercules, World's Biggest Dog (Photo)
Emailed image of a gargantuan dog named Hercules, purportedly the Guinness Record holder for World's Biggest Dog. Status: Fake
18. Richard Gere and the Gerbil
Rumors claim actor Richard Gere took a midnight ambulance ride to the emergency room, where a small, furry rodent was removed from one of his orifices. Status: False
19. Brown Recluse Spider Bite (Photos)
Emailed pictures purport to show the progressive deterioration of a necrotic wound caused by the bite of the poisonous brown recluse spider. Status: Undetermined
20. 'Eye of God' in Outer Space (Photo)
Emailed NASA photo taken by the Hubble Space Telescope has been labeled the "Eye of God" by frequent forwarders. Status: Authentic
21. Ciara's Secret Sex Change
Forwarded email claims that hip-hop/R&B star Ciara was born male and is either a secret transvestite or underwent a sex-change operation to become a transsexual. Status: False
22. Do They Eat Babies in China?
"Dear Urban Legends: I received an email last week which was quite disturbing and, to say the least, disgusting. It is about dead babies that can be bought from hospitals in Taiwan for $70 to meet the high demand for grilled and barbequed babies!" Status: False
23. World's Tallest Woman (Photos)
Emailed photos purport to show the world's tallest woman at 7 feet, 4 inches tall and 320 pounds. Status: False
24. Pepsi Omits 'Under God' in Patriotic Promotion
Baseless email campaign protests the alleged omission of the words 'under God' in an excerpt from the Pledge of Allegiance on new Pepsi cans. Status: False
25. Listerine Mosquito Control
Forwarded email claims spraying an outside area with Listerine mouthwash repels and/or kills every mosquito in the vicinity. Status: See details
Newly Added / Updated:
1. 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. Status: False
Last updated: 07/07/09
