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.
1,802 fact-checks
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Facebook Sick Child Hoax – ‘Help Boy with Massive Tumour by Liking, Sharing and Commenting’
The message is a disgusting hoax designed to gather likes for a particular Facebook Page and promote it further via shares and comments. Neither Facebook nor CNN will donate money to help the child just because a person likes, shares or comments on his image.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 31, 2014
- ✓CredibleVerified
TRUE – Razor Blades Found on Playground Equipment in East Moline
The claims in the message are true. Local news reports indicate that East Moline authorities discovered around 12 razor blades glued to play equipment in the park. A two-year-old child was cut on the hand.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 26, 2014
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‘Eagle Snatching Kid’ Viral Video is Fake
The video is not real footage. It is a clever fake created by students at a media-training centre. The video first went viral back in 2012, but again gained momentum in early 2014.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 21, 2014
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‘All Paid For Disney World Vacation’ Like-Farming Scam
The Page is a typical like-farming scam. There is no prize and the Page is not an official Disney World page. The fake Page is an attempt to trick Facebook users into liking and sharing, thereby increasing visitor numbers and Page likes.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 19, 2014
- ✕Hoax
Viral Video Showing UFO Emerging From Behind Cloud
Alas, the footage does not depict a real UFO. The video is part of a viral marketing campaign created by a Brazilian advertising company called Atitude Comunicacao. The promotion, which launched back in 2011, was for pizza box advertising company, Pizzboxx.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 18, 2014
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HOAX – Malaysia Airlines ‘Lose Yourself’ Advertisement
The message is a hoax. The poster is not a genuine Malaysia Airlines advertisement. Real Malaysia Airlines promotional material has been altered to include the fake slogans. The pictured aircraft is an A380, not a 777.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 17, 2014
- ✕Hoax
HOAX – ‘Dinosaur Egg Hatches In Berlin Museum’
The claims in the message are pure nonsense. Of course, no dinosaur egg has hatched, in Berlin or anywhere else. While many dinosaur eggs have been discovered and displayed in museums, the items are fossils and the chances of one actually hatching is – of…
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 13, 2014
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Microsoft Account ‘Outlook Web Access’ Phishing Scam
The email is not from Microsoft and the claim that users must click a link to upgrade their email accounts is a lie. The message is a phishing scam designed to trick users into sending their Microsoft account login details to criminals.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 10, 2014
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‘Ignore if u Don’t Care’ Facebook Donations for Likes Hoax
The message is a disgusting hoax. Facebook will certainly not donate money to help the man in exchange for liking, sharing or commenting. The hoax is nothing more than a callous attempt to fraudulently promote a particular Facebook Page.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 7, 2014
- ✕Hoax
Overblown Facebook Warning – ‘Do Not Open Any PMs From Anyone!’
The message is greatly overblown and contains misleading information. Your computer cannot get infected with malware solely by opening a private Facebook message. People should certainly use caution when following links in private messages.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 5, 2014
- ✕Hoax
BMW 435i Giveaway Like-Farming Scam
The message is a scam and no BMW 435i’s are being given away as claimed. The message and the associated Facebook Page is just one more in a series of like-farming scams that have falsely promised BMW’s and other high-end vehicles in exchange for liking,…
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 4, 2014
- ✓CredibleVerified
‘Friend Request From Someone You Are Already Friends With’ Alert Message
The advice not to accept friend requests from people you are already friends with is valid and worth heeding. Scammers regularly use a tactic known as Facebook cloning in which they copy publicly available information from a targeted person’s profile and use…
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 3, 2014
- ✕Hoax
BMW Manager X6 Giveaway Like-Farming Scam
The message is not from any BMW marketing manager and the claim that a BMW X6 is being given away is a lie. The image used in the scam message was stolen from elsewhere and depicts Peter Kronschnabl, president of BMW India, at the car launch in 2009.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 26, 2014
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180 Unsealed XBOX ONE Giveaway Like-Farming Scam
The Page is fraudulent and has no connection to Facebook or Microsoft. The page is a like-farming scam designed with the intention of tricking users in to liking the Page. No XBOX ONE’S will be given away.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 25, 2014
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'Parents Can't Afford Surgery' Sick Baby Hoax
According to a post that is circulating rapidly via Facebook, users can help cover the medical costs of a sick baby just by liking, sharing or commenting on a photograph of the child.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 24, 2014
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PayPal ‘Your Transaction was Declined’ Phishing Scam
The email is not from PayPal. It is a quite sophisticated phishing scam attempt designed to steal PayPal login details and other financial information from recipients.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 20, 2014
- ✕Hoax
‘Product Testing UK’ Facebook Survey Scam
The messages and associated Facebook Page are part of a survey scam. The ‘Application Form’ link takes users to suspect third-party survey websites that ask them to provide personal information to go in the draw for various prizes.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 19, 2014
- ✕Hoax
‘Shocking Video’ Facebook Scams
The messages are scams. The links open bogus pages that attempt to trick people into participating in survey scams, installing rogue Facebook apps, installing malicious browser plugins, downloading malware or promoting suspect websites.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 18, 2014
- ✕Hoax
Microsoft ‘Reactivate Your Email Account’ Phishing Scam
The email is not from Microsoft. It is a crude phishing scam designed to trick recipients into giving their email address and password to online criminals.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 13, 2014
- ✕Hoax
‘Incoming Fax Report’ Malware Email
According to this email, which purports to be an incoming fax report, the recipient can click a link to read the fax file online. Supposedly, the fax is related to a payroll. However, the email is not a genuine fax report.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 12, 2014
Entries are collected from public fact-checking sites and link back to the original article.