The fact-check archive.
Thousands of dissected hoaxes in Indonesian and English: the claim, what the fact-checkers found, and the sources to verify it yourself.
1,773 fact-checks
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Will Ferrell is Not Dead
A bogus press release circulating around the Internet claims actor Will Ferrell was killed in a paragliding accident Los Angeles — Actor Will Ferrell accidentally died in a freak para-gliding accident yesterday in Torey Pines, Southern California.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 24, 2017
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Jaleel White of Urkel Fame Is Not Dead
AP news report claims that actor Jaleel White, who played the lovable Urkel in “Family Matters”, has committed suicide. LOS ANGELES, California (AP) — Jaleel White, who played ‘nerdy’ neighbor Steve Urkel on “Family Matters” found dead Monday.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 24, 2017
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“1st-Step Assignment”; Mystery Shopper Scam Email
The email is fraudulent and it was not sent by a legitimate mystery shopper company. In fact, it is a scam designed to trick you into “laundering” the proceeds of dodgy cheques.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 24, 2017
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Pascua Lama Mine Email Petition
Message claims that the planned Pascua Lama mine in Chile may cause devastating environmental damage to the area and asks recipients to “sign” the email petition and send it to others. Dear friends who care about our earth.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 24, 2017
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Visa & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam
This story was first published in 2006
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 24, 2017
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Email Petition Against the Closure of South African Child Protection Unit
Update: Around October 2007, a new, and equally false version of the petition began circulating that included graphic images of a decapitated child.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 23, 2017
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Plagiarized Poem – Why Computers Sometimes Crash! by Dr. Seuss
This story was first published on 16th June 2006
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 23, 2017
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Michael Hunt Missing Child Message
Email message claims that a fifteen year old boy named Michael Hunt is missing from Longs South Carolina. Subject: help please look at the picture, read what her father says, then forward his message on. Help! This boy went missing 2 weeks ago(5/7/06).
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 23, 2017
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Bush Hid The Facts – Notepad Conspiracy Claim
Message claims that the strange result when a Windows Notepad file with the text “Bush hid the facts” is re-opened may represent a deliberate anti-Bush political statement by Microsoft. Subject: political conspiracy? hey this is really weird!!
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 23, 2017
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Mother Tiger Nurses Piglets Email
The photographs are genuine. However, the explanation is a work of fiction. The photographs were actually taken at the Sriracha Tiger Zoo in Thailand, not in California as claimed in the message.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 23, 2017
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809 Area Code Scam Warning Email
International call scams are real. However, the information about these scams in the messages is inaccurate and misleading. The messages substantially exaggerate the potential costs to victims.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 23, 2017
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“Baby Has a Malignant Tumor”; Facebook Sick Child Scam
The post is a callous and disgusting scam designed to promote a particular Facebook Page and quickly gather large numbers of likes. Facebook will certainly not donate money based on how many times people like, comment, or share.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 23, 2017
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Swiffer Wetjet Pet Death Email Rumour
Email forward claims that household pets have died as a result of licking floors cleaned with the Swiffer Wetjet cleaning system ( Full commentary below ). Wet Jet and the danger they causeJust in case you have pets or small children around.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 23, 2017
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Americans With No Abilities Act Hoax
Message claims that proposed legislation to be called the Americans With No Abilities Act is intended to provide wide-sweeping work-place benefits for “the millions of Americans who lack any real skills or ambition”.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 23, 2017
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Email Forward Claims Jamie Bulger Killer Linked to Perth Child Murder
Email message claims that the person who raped and murdered a young child in Perth Western Australia is actually one of the boys who killed little Jamie Bulger in 1993.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 23, 2017
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Perfume Urban Legend – “Car Park Criminals Using Ether Disguised as Perfume”
The warnings are untrue and should not be taken seriously. They are just incarnations of a long-running urban legend that has been passed around since at least the year 2000.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 23, 2017
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Missed Call Phone Scam Warning Email
It is true that a company is using the tactic described. It is untrue that the caller will be instantly charged $100 for the first call or $50 for each of the two calls.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 23, 2017
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No, The “Owner of Audi”; is NOT Going to Give You A Car For Liking and Sharing
The Facebook Page is fake. It is certainly not giving away any cars, and Kevin M James is certainly not the “owner of AUDI”. Those who participate by liking, sharing, and commenting have no chance whatsoever of winning anything at all.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 22, 2017
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Camera Radar “Negligent Driving”; Malware Email
The email is not a legitimate traffic violation notice. Clicking the link downloads a.zip file that harbours a malicious JavaScript (.js) file. If you open this.js file, the JavaScript can download and install malware on your computer.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 21, 2017
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Steve Irwin Became Born Again Christian Rumour
Forwarded email claims that Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin became a born again Christian shortly before he died. Subject: Good News about Steve Irwin I want to inform Creation Ministries International that Steve Irwin became a born again Christian two and a…
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 21, 2017
Entries are collected from public fact-checking sites and link back to the original article.