Urban Legends: Most Popular Articles

Urban Legends Photo Quiz: Spot the Fakes!
Real or Fake? The Urban Legends Photo Quiz

Amazing Tsunami Picture - Netlore Archive
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

Test Your Urban Legends IQ
Urban Legends Quiz: Test your urban legends IQ!

'POSTCARD' Virus Hoax - Netlore Archive
Hoax email alert warns of 'the worst virus ever' circulating in the form of an attachment labeled 'POSTCARD'

The Urban Legends Top 25
Top 25 most popular topics in Urban Legends and Folklore

Breast Infestation - Netlore Archive
Ladies, wash your underwear in boiling water! Emailed image and video purport to document the medical case of anthropologist Susan McKinley, who failed to seek treatment for a rash and wound up with an infestation of larvae in her breast.

Current Hoaxes / Netlore
From About.com: Current Internet hoaxes, email rumors and urban legends debunked - your resource for information on all the latest misinformation on the Net

Play the Urban Legends Name Game!
Urban Legends Q & A: Play the Urban Legends Game!

Hercules, World's Biggest Dog - Netlore Archive
Emailed image of a gargantuan dog named Hercules, purportedly the Guinness Record holder for World's Biggest Dog

Camel Spiders in Iraq - Netlore Archive
Attack of the Camel Spider! Emailed photo taken by U.S. soldiers stationed in Iraq shows a pair of huge, scary-looking insects known as camel spiders

Cell Phone 'Do Not Call' List?
Forwarded email warns that a directory of cell phone numbers will soon be published and urges users to enter their cell phone numbers on a federal 'Do Not Call' list to prevent unsolicited calls from telemarketers

Latest Updates & Additions: Net Hoaxes, Urban Legends & Rumors
Information on all the latest misinformation on the Net - Internet hoaxes, rumors and urban legends

Is Barack Obama a Muslim? - Netlore Archive
Email rumor alleges that U.S. presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama is a loyal Muslim who has lied about his religious background, including his claim to being a devout Christian

Brown Recluse Spider Bite (Photos) - Netlore Archive
Emailed photos purport to show the progressive deterioration of a wound caused by the bite of the poisonous brown recluse spider

Animal-Human Hybrid (Photo) - Netlore Archive
Circulating via email, an unsettling photograph of what appears to be a half-human, half-animal creature suckling her hybrid offspring

Jamie Lee Curtis
Longstanding (and unproven) rumors claim actress Jamie Lee Curtis is a hermaphrodite or was born intersex and underwent surgery to become a woman

Top 10 Grossest Urban Legends
Here is a handpicked collection of our very favorite, absolutely 100% true (heh!) tales of revolting food contaminations, creepy-crawly insect infestations, sexually-transmitted horrors, and all-around nauseating human behavior. Each and every story is guaranteed to disgust. Enjoy!

World's Tallest Woman - Netlore Archive
Emailed photos purport to show the world's tallest woman at 7 feet, 4 inches tall and 320 pounds

Bottled Water Safety Alert
Forwarded email warns women not to drink bottled water that has been left in a car because the heat supposedly releases cancer-causing toxins which 'leak' from the plastic into the water.

Mr. Rogers a Sniper?
Was Fred Rogers, longtime host of the children's TV show Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, a trained sharpshooter with dozens of kills to his credit as a Marine sniper (or Navy Seal)?

Bill Gates Is Sharing His Fortune! - Netlore Archive
Sorry, folks. Microsoft and AOL have not merged, nor has Bill Gates decided to share his fortune with people who forward silly chain letters

The Eye of God? (Hubble Telescope Photo) - Netlore Archive
NASA photo taken by the Hubble Space Telescope has been labeled the 'Eye of God' by frequent forwarders

The Urban Legends Slide Show
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

Shark Attacks Helicopter
Is that a great white shark lunging out of the water to attack a scuba diver dangling from that helicopter rescue ladder?

Shark Attacks Helicopter! - Netlore Archive
Photo purporting to show a great white shark lunging out of the water to attack a scuba diver dangling from a helicopter ladder

Top 10 Scariest Urban Legends
The Top 10 scariest urban legends ever told

Pit Bull vs. Porcupine (Photos) - Netlore Archive
Emailed images show the result of an unfortunate encounter between a 'pit bull' and a porcupine

Camel Spiders
Taken by U.S. soldiers stationed in Iraq, this snapshot shows a pair of huge, scary-looking insects known as camel spiders.

Test Your Urban Legends IQ - Advanced Level
Urban Legends Quiz: Test your urban legends IQ!

Needles on Gas Pump Handles?
This email alert from a 'Captain Abraham Sands' of the Jacksonville Police Department warns that evildoers are exposing unsuspecting victims to the AIDS virus by attaching HIV-contaminated needles to gas pump handles

World's Biggest Dog
Emailed image of a gargantuan dog named Hercules, purportedly the Guinness Record holder for World's Biggest Dog.

Bankruptcies and Gift Cards
Email flier lists several companies that have supposedly filed for bankruptcy, warning that gift cards from these businesses won't be valid for much longer

The Urban Legends Slide Show - The Eye of God
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Human Statue of Liberty
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

Hercules the Liger (Photos) - Netlore Archive
AUTHENTIC: Emailed photos of a 10-foot 'liger' (a cross between a lion and a tiger) named Hercules

Did Nostradamus Predict 9/11?
Internet rumors claim French seer Nostradamus predicted the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon 500 years before they happened.

Why the Ocean Is So Salty - Netlore Archive
Is it true that a blue whale produces over 400 gallons of sperm when it ejaculates, and that explains the saltiness of the ocean?

Do They Eat Babies in China?
Do they eat babies in China? Photos circulating via email purport to show a Chinese man cooking and eating a human baby or fetus

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Obama on the Phone
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

Richard Gere & the Gerbil
I don't mean to sound cranky, but it's a fact that every time I meet someone and tell them I debunk urban legends, the first question that pops out of their mouth is: 'What about that thing with Richard Gere and the gerbil? Is THAT true?'

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Piranha on Steroids (#1)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

Fatal Spider Bite in North Florida - Netlore Archive
Recycled email prank warning of the dangers of the Two-Striped Telamonia, purportedly a poisonous spider that hides under toilet seats and has killed five people in North Florida

Dead Mermaid Found in the Philippines - Netlore Archive
Emailed photos purportedly show the carcass of a dead mermaid found washed up on a beach in the Philippines

90# Telephone Scam - Netlore Archive
The 90# Telephone Scam - Patrick Crispen of The Internet Tourbus weighs in on a PARTLY true Net rumor

World Record Grizzly Bear (Photos) - Netlore Archive
Are emailed pictures of a giant, 1,600-pound, man-eating grizzly bear allegedly killed in Alaska by a hunter or Forest Service employee real?

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Piranha on Steroids (#2)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

Giant Texas Rattlesnake - Netlore Archive
Emailed picture of a giant rattlesnake killed in Texas, allegedly measuring 9 feet 1 inch in length and weighing 97 pounds

Email: Tips on Pumping Gas
Netlore Archive: Forwarded email purports to share a petroleum industry insider's tips for saving money at the gas pump.

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Giant Catfish
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

Ciara's Secret Sex Change
Internet rumors are flying to the effect that hip-hop/R&B star Ciara was born a man and is either a transvestite or underwent a sex-change operation to become a transsexual

The Urban Legends Slide Show - 'Bill Sux' Etched on Pentium Chip
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

Giant Catfish
Emailed photo of a huge catfish supposedly caught in Lake Texoma, Texas.

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Sneaky Shark
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Crocodile Eats Golfer!
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

Obama's Kenya Connection
Emailed letter from American missionaries in Kenya claims Barack Obama is a racist Muslim who fomented political chaos in Africa and is dedicated to worldwide jihad.

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Brain Maggots / Sushi Worms (#1)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

Secret Cell Phone Tips?
Email flier purports to clue readers in on various 'unknown' tips and tricks for cell phone use

Copper Pennies & Bee Stings
Forwarded email claims that taping a copper penny over a bee sting (or hornet sting) will provide overnight relief from redness and swelling

PIN Number Reversal - Use Reverse PIN to Contact Police in ATM Emergency? - Netlore Archive
Email rumor claims ATM users can contact police in the event of an attempted robbery by entering their PIN in reverse

Was a Giant Human Skeleton Found in Saudi Arabia Desert? - Netlore Archive
'Recent gas exploration activity in the southeast region of the Arabian desert uncovered skeletal remains of a human of phenomenal size'

The Urban Legends Slide Show - The Queen and Scottish Soldiers
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Albino Fawn
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

Brain Maggots / Sushi Worms - Netlore Archive
Emailed photos of a man whose brain allegedly became infested with maggots (or worms) as a result of an ingrown hair (or eating sushi)

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Dead Wife Coffee Table
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Hercules the Liger
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Snake Swallows Man (#1)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Animal-Human Hybrid
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

Barack Obama Antichrist
Email rumor claims charismatic U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama is the Antichrist prophesied in the New Testament

Snake Swallows Man - Netlore Archive
Series of photos circulating via email purports to show a gigantic snake - said to be an anaconda, python, or boa constrictor - swallowing a human being whole

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Snake Swallows Man (#3)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Snake Swallows Man (#2)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Air Force Jets Fly in USA Formation
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

*77 or #77 Cell Phone Feature - Netlore Archive
Female college student pulled over in her car by a cop-impersonating would-be rapist is rescued by a real officer after dialing #77 (or *77) on her cell phone

Giant Catfish Caught in Lake Texoma (2004) - Netlore Archive
Emailed photo of a huge catfish supposedly caught in Lake Texoma, Texas

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Snake Swallows Man (#4)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

New Dollar Coin Omits 'In God We Trust' - Netlore Archive
Email rumor claims the motto 'In God We Trust' was omitted from the new one-dollar U.S. coin issued in February 2007

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Giant Razorback Hog
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - World's Tallest Woman (#2)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

Animals & Insects - Net hoaxes, urban legends & rumors
Current Netlore: Animals & insects

Doctors Find Live Worm in Patient's Eye - Netlore Archive
When the doctors operated, what was thought to be a growth or cyst actually turned out to be a live worm; what was thought initially to be mere dust in the patient's eye was actually an insect's egg...

The Urban Legends Slide Show - The Lion Cut (#2)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - World's Biggest Dog
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

Polar Bear Attack (Photos) - Netlore Archive
Emailed photos graphically document injuries sustained by the survivor of a polar bear attack

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Brain Maggots / Sushi Worms (#2)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Snake vs. Electric Fence
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Doctors Find Live Worm in Patient's Eye
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

You've Received a Postcard (Trojan / Virus) - Netlore Archive
Real virus: Messages with subject headers such as 'You've received a postcard from a school-mate!' etc. contain links to malicious Web pages

Origin of the S-Word: 'Ship High in Transit' - Netlore Archive
In which we are told, with a straight face, that the word 'shit' originated as the acronym of 'Ship High in Transit,' a nautical phrase

The Urban Legends Slide Show - The Lion Cut (#1)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

Obama Explains Anthem Stance
Circulating via email, an alleged quote from Barack Obama explains why he doesn't wear a flag pin or salute the flag during the national anthem.

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Snowball, the Giant Mutant Cat
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

Listerine Mosquito Control?
Forwarded email claims spraying an outside area with Listerine mouthwash repels and/or kills every mosquito in the vicinity

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Hurricane Lili Waterspouts
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

Tsunami in Action
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).

Sneaky Shark (Photo) - Netlore Archive
Emailed image shows a massive shark looming behind two blissfully unaware scuba divers vacationing in Australia

Dead Mermaid Found After Tsunami - Netlore Archive
Emailed photos allegedly show the carcass of a dead mermaid washed up on a beach at Chennai, India by the devastating tsunami of December 26, 2004

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Tiger Nurses Piglets (#2)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Tiger Nurses Piglets (#1)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - The 9/11 Tourist Guy (#1)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

Crocodile Eats Golfer (Photo) - Netlore Archive
The impatient golfer was not located, but his clubs were found on the hole. Three days later, Ole Mose was spotted on the seventh hole and was an immediate suspect...

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Moose on a Wire
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - The 9/11 Tourist Guy (#2)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

Dr. James Dobson vs. Petition No. 2493 (Religious Broadcasting) - Netlore Archive
New email variants of decades-old petition expressing outrage over alleged attempt by atheists to force a government ban on religious broadcasting in the United States

The Urban Legends Slide Show - The 9/11 Tourist Guy (#3)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - The 9/11 Tourist Guy (#4)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

Urban Legends Sex Quiz
Quiz: Urban Legends about romance, sex, and scandal

The Altoids Effect - Altoids Mints and Oral Sex - Netlore Archive
Altoids Lore: Does chewing this 'curiously strong' brand of mint before fellatio (oral sex) enhance the pleasure?

The Urban Legends Slide Show - World's Highest Bridge
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

UK Bans Holocaust Teaching?
Email chain letter urges remembrance of the Holocaust, claiming the U.K. has removed all mention of the event from its school curriculum for fear of offending Muslims

The Urban Legends Slide Show - The 9/11 Tourist Guy (#5)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Johnnie Cochran's Headstone
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - The 9/11 Tourist Guy (#6)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

Missing Person: Ashley Flores - Netlore Archive
Ashley Flores hoax: Email flier seeks help locating Ashley Flores, a 13-year-old girl allegedly missing in Philadelphia

Code Adam - Foiled Abduction at Sam's Club
Wal-Mart's 'Code Adam' program thwarts an attempted child abduction. Email version of an urban legend dating back at least 20 years.

The Urban Legends Slide Show - The 9/11 Tourist Guy (#7)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Tsunami Strikes Thailand
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - North Pole Sunset
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

Jelly Bracelets - An Invitation to Sex? - Netlore Archive
It is widely believed - apparently more so by adults than by the teenagers themselves - that the 'jelly bracelets' currently popular among junior high school students are color-coded according to the wearer's willingness to perform certain sexual acts

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Another Giant Cat
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - The 9/11 Tourist Guy (#8)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

Origin of the F-Word - Netlore Archive
In which we are told -- with a straight face -- that the word 'fuck' originated as the acronym of 'Fornication Under Consent of the King' (or some variation thereof)

The Urban Legends Slide Show - The 9/11 Tourist Guy (#9)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - The 9/11 Tourist Guy (#10)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Giant Gator
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - The 9/11 Tourist Guy (#11)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - 1964 Mock-Up of 'Home Computer'
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

Why Friday the 13th Is Unlucky
Friday the 13th: As folklorists, we may not be able to cure paraskevidekatriaphobia (fear of Friday the 13th), but we can at least lend its sufferers a few good excuses.

MasterCard Wedding
MasterCard Wedding: During a lavish wedding ceremony at Clemson University attended by 300 guests, the groom interrupts the proceedings to reveal a shocking secret about the bride and the best man

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Black and White Twins
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - The Black Patch
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Strange-Headed Creature
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

Tiger Adopts Piglets (Photos) - Netlore Archive
Emailed snapshots taken at a zoo show a mother tiger apparently nursing a brood of piglets costumed in tiger skins

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Malay Ghost
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Hurricane Isabel
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The \$250 Cookie Recipe
Here is a 'true story' almost everyone has heard by now - the infamous $250 Cookie Recipe, most recently associated with the Neiman Marcus company, but previously (during the 1980s) the bane of cookie diva Mrs. Fields

Crocodile Eats Golfer
'The impatient golfer was not located, but his clubs were found on the hole. Three days later, Ole Mose was spotted on the seventh hole and was an immediate suspect...'

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Mule Attacks Mountain Lion (#1)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Anti-Bush Product Label
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

'Amazing' Satellite Photos of Columbia Space Shuttle Explosion - Netlore Archive
Are dramatic photographs allegedly taken by an Israeli satellite of the Columbia Space Shuttle explosion real?

Piranha on Steroids
Circulating via email, a photo of fishermen holding a large fish with a mouthful of razor-sharp teeth, variously captioned: 'Piranha on Steroids' or 'World Record Piranha.'

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Pit Bull vs. Porcupine (#1)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Pit Bull vs. Porcupine (#2)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Mondex: Mark of the Beast
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

Cyclops, the One-Eyed Kitten - Netlore Archive
Emailed image of a one-eyed kitten named Cyclops who survived only 24 hours before succumbing to a rare medical condition known as holoprosencephaly

The Man-Eating Catfish
Internet photos purport to show a giant, man-eating catfish caught in the Furong Reservoir in Huadu, China.

Card Trick: I Can Read Your Mind!
I can read your mind! Don't believe me? Here, I'll prove it...

MONDEX: The Mark of the Beast - Netlore Archive
Emailed slide show claims that microchips used in Mondex 'smart cards' are being implanted in people's hands or foreheads and constitute the 'mark of the beast' prophesied in the Biblical Book of Revelation

Don't Turn on the Light!
After coming home late and getting ready for bed in the dark, a college coed wakes up the next morning to receive the shock of her life...

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Mule Attacks Mountain Lion (#2)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email

The Urban Legends Slide Show - Mule Attacks Mountain Lion (#3)
A gallery of odd and arresting images - some real, some fake, some persistently enigmatic - as circulated via email