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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BillGatesfortune
This chain letter has been spread across the internet. Of course, it is not true and Microsoft and AOL are not participating. The text of the chain letter is as follows: Dear Friends, Please do not take this for a junk letter.
Sophos · English · May 20, 2002
- ✕Hoax
Amazonrainforestpetition
This chain letter has been distributed for a number of years. Regardless of the legitimacy or otherwise of the original petition, Sophos understands that the proposed law was shelved by Brazil’s Congress on 18 May 2000.
Sophos · English · May 7, 2002
- ✕Hoax
ATMTheft
This chain letter has been circulating on the internet for some years. Recently a version has been distributed which claims to be from the Halifax Building Society.
Sophos · English · Apr 26, 2002
- ✕Hoax
Leukaemiachainletter
This chain letter is being forwarded around the internet. The email claims it is being tracked by AOL and that number of times it is being forwarded is being counted. This is, of course, untrue.
Sophos · English · Apr 18, 2002
- ✕Hoax
Hotmailhoax
There are several variants of this chain letter being forwarded around the internet. It is very similar to the Dear YAHOO User chain letter. The text of the first version reads as follows: Urgent: Please Forward!
Sophos · English · Feb 1, 2002
- ✕Hoax
HIVNeedles
There have been a number of different versions of this chain letter reported to Sophos. Some versions of the chain letter claim that visitors to a cinema in Australia have been infected, but this has been confirmed as a hoax by the Australian Red Cross Blood…
Sophos · English · Sep 28, 2001
- ✕Hoax
Ecologyalert
The following chain letter is being forwarded around the internet, concerning President Bush and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol: Subject: ecology alert President Bush recently announced that the United States Government will NOT honor its commitments under the 1997…
Sophos · English · May 30, 2001
- ✕Hoax
Emailcharges
There are two versions of this chain letter being forwarded around the internet. The text for the American version reads as follows: Subject: email charges Text of the letter: I guess the warnings were true. Federal Bill 602P 5 cents per E-mail Sent.
Sophos · English · May 3, 2001
- ✕Hoax
Champagne
The following chain letter is being forwarded around the internet, offering six bottles of champagne as a prize if you forward the message to ten other users and carbon copy someone at Veuve Clicquot (the name has been replaced with xxxxxxxx). bonjour!!
Sophos · English · Dec 18, 2000
- ✕Hoax
BillGates
The Bill Gates hoax began circulating in November 1997. Part of the text of the hoax reads as follows Forward this to everyone you know and if it reaches 1000 people everyone on the list you will receive $1000 and a copy of Windows98 at my expense.
Sophos · English · Jan 1, 2000
- ✕Hoax
Ericssongiveaway
The following chain letter is being forwarded around the internet: Dear customer Our main competitor, Nokia, is giving free mobile phones away on the Internet. Here at Ericsson we want to counter their offer.
Sophos · English · Jan 1, 2000
- ✕Hoax
Klingerman
The following chain letter is being forwarded around the internet. Subject: Fw: virus warning but not e-mail Text of the letter: This is an alert about a virus in the original sense of the word...one that affects your body, not your hard drive.
Sophos · English · Jan 1, 2000
- ✕Hoax
Intel/AOLmerger
The text of the hoax reads as follows: I'm an attorney, and I know the law. This thing is for real. Rest assured AOL and Intel will follow through with their promises for fear of facing a multimillion dollar class action suit similar to the one filed by…
Sophos · English · Jan 1, 2000
- ✕Hoax
‘Negative Video About Your Site’ Scam Messages
Scammers are targeting website owners via messages claiming that a negative video about their site is circulating. The messages claim that the video is going viral. They urge you to click a link to view the supposed video.
Hoax-Slayer · English
- ✕Hoax
Fake ‘Emergency’ Text Messages Targeting Australian Mobile Phone Users
According to the ACCC’s ScamWatch website, Australian residents have been receiving text messages asking for emergency assistance. The text messages, which do not come from numbers on your contact list, request your help and ask you to call back immediately…
Hoax-Slayer · English
- ✕Hoax
No, The Simpsons Did NOT Predict President Trump's 'Glowing Orb' Scene 15 Years Ago
Image © depositphotos/wollertz A message, which is currently circulating via social media, suggests that a 15-year-old episode of animated TV series ‘The Simpsons” predicted the now famous scene in which US President Trump laid hands on a “glowing orb” during…
Hoax-Slayer · English
- ✕Hoax
Pamela Anderson Targeted in Death Hoax – Pamela is NOT Dead
According to a supposed news story that has been circulating via social media, actress and model Pamela Anderson has died. The report claims that Anderson collapsed in her bathroom at home and was admitted to hospital but later died after going into cardiac…
Hoax-Slayer · English
- ✕Hoax
‘Private Investor Seeking Partnership’ Scam Email
This email claims to be a person who has a lucrative investment fund proposal to discuss with you. Supposedly, the London based sender has a client in the United Arab Emirates who is seeking a partnership for strategic investment.
Hoax-Slayer · English
- ✕Hoax
No, a Call From 777888999 will NOT ‘Blast’ Your Phone – Hoax
According to supposed warning messages that are currently circulating via WhatsApp and SMS, you should not take a mobile phone call from the number 777888999.
Hoax-Slayer · English
- ✕Hoax
Bogus Warning – 'Don't Use French Flag as Your Profile Picture Because ISIS Will Find You and Kill You'
This message, which is circulating via social media, email, and SMS, warns you not to use the French flag overlay on your Facebook profile because, if you do so, terrorist group ISIS will find you and kill you and your family.
Hoax-Slayer · English
Entries are collected from public fact-checking sites and link back to the original article.