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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Molly – Pony With A Prosthetic Leg
According to this email forward, “Molly”, a pony who had a limb amputated after being attacked by a dog, was fitted with an artificial leg in a groundbreaking veterinary operation. The message includes photographs of Molly with her new prosthetic leg.
Hoax-Slayer · English · May 30, 2008
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Refugee Monthly Allowance From Australian Government Hoax
The claims in these messages are false. Refugees in Australia do not receive higher government payments than pensioners or other Australian citizens. In fact, there is no separate rate of benefit payments for refugees.
Hoax-Slayer · English · May 10, 2008
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United States District Court Subpoena Malware Email
Summary: Email purporting to be a subpoena from the United States District Court informs recipients that they must appear and testify before a Grand Jury.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Apr 16, 2008
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Seventeen Pound Russian Baby Photographs
According to this circulating message, the accompanying photographs show newborn Nadia, a baby born in Russia that weighed in at a whopping 17 pound, 1 ounce (7.75 kg). A number of site visitors have contacted me to ask if the photographs are genuine.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Apr 15, 2008
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‘Siamese’ Pike Photograph
Versions of this “Siamese Pike” photograph have been circulating since at least 2001. Many different locations across North America have been specified in various versions of the message. None have been confirmed.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Apr 3, 2008
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Nareepol Tree
According to this fanciful message, which is making the rounds of the Internet via email and social media sites, the accompanying photographs depict an amazing tree in Thailand that grows fruit in human shape.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Apr 1, 2008
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Nareepol Tree
According to this fanciful message, which is making the rounds of the Internet via email and social media sites, the accompanying photographs depict an amazing tree in Thailand that grows fruit in human shape.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Apr 1, 2008
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Interpol Funds Recovery Scam
According to this email, a fraud investigator working with Interpol and the United Nations is attempting to recover and return stolen funds that have been identified as belonging to the victim.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 18, 2008
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F-15 Crash Sequence Images
The incident described in the message did take place in November 2007. However, the images in the message are from a post-crash animation, not the crash itself.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 8, 2008
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Point to Point Speed Camera Warning Email
According to this emailed “warning” to drivers, point-to-point speed camera systems have already been installed on the M5 and M7 motorways in NSW, Australia and are being deployed on “any expressway or highway” where vehicles are not able to exit between two…
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 8, 2008
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Cancer Info From Johns Hopkins Hoax Email
None of the claims in the message were published or in any way endorsed by Johns Hopkins. In fact, Johns Hopkins has released a statement denying any involvement.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 3, 2008
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Bacteria on Restaurant Lemon Slices Warning
According to a message that began cirulating back in 2007, a scientific study found potentially dangerous bacteria in lemon wedges included with drinks ordered in 21 different restaurants.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 17, 2008
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Shark’s Love for Man Hoax
The claims in the message are untrue. The story was published several years ago in a French magazine as an April Fools joke.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Jan 30, 2008
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Shark's Love for Man Hoax
The claims in the message are untrue. The story was published several years ago in a French magazine as an April Fools joke.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Jan 30, 2008
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Federal Reserve Bank ‘Phishing Attack Warning’ Scam Emails
Bogus emails purporting to be from the Federal Reserve Bank began hitting inboxes in January 2009. The emails claim that a number of banks and credit unions have been affected by a “large-scaled phishing attack”, prompting the FDIC and the U.S.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Jan 28, 2008
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Giant Rabbit Photographs – Robert The Giant Bunny
The rabbit, named ‘Robert’, is (or was) a real animal and the images are authentic. The man holding Robert is German-based rabbit breeder, Karl Szmolinsky.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Dec 3, 2007
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Federal Trade Commission Complaint Scam
In October 2007, scam emails purporting to be from the Federal Trade Commission began hitting inboxes. The bogus messages claimed that a complaint has been filed against the recipient.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Oct 31, 2007
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Shark Behind Scuba Divers Photo Hoax
This story was first published on August 30, 2007
Hoax-Slayer · English · Aug 30, 2007
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Giant Skeleton Hoax
Messages with attached images supposedly depicting the skeletal remains of gigantic humans claim that the skeletons were unearthed in the Arabian or Indian deserts. Subject: [Fwd: Interesting discovery] FYI.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Aug 14, 2007
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Giant Skeleton Hoax
This classic leg-pull has now been circulating via email, blogs and forums for several years and has even been published by some news outlets as factual.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Aug 14, 2007
Entries are collected from public fact-checking sites and link back to the original article.