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.
11,141 fact-checks
- ✕Hoax
One Ring Phone Scam Warnings
The warnings are legitimate. The FTC, BBB and other legitimate sources in the United States have issued warnings about the scam. The scammers use auto-dialers to call cell phones and hang up after one ring in the hope that people will call back.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 12, 2014
- ✓CredibleVerified
Facebook ‘A Look Back’ Video is Genuine (But Watch For Scam Imitations)
A number of Facebook users have heard rumours that the Facebook “A Look Back” video feature is somehow malicious. The rumours have caused concern and confusion among users.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 7, 2014
- ✕Hoax
‘Major Hack’ Facebook Virus Warning Message
The attack described is real, although details are currently sketchy. The text of the messages and the name of the malicious attachment vary considerably.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 7, 2014
- ✕Hoax
Misleading and Inaccurate Warning – ‘Don’t Answer Calls While Charging Cell Phone’
The message is most likely derived from an Indian news report describing an incident in which a boy was seriously injured when his Chinese made mobile phone exploded in his hand while it was being charged.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 3, 2014
- ✕Hoax
‘Image Has Been Sent by Evernote’ Malware Email
Evernote did not send the email and has no connection to it. The message is a criminal ruse designed to trick people into downloading and installing malware.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Feb 2, 2014
- ✕Hoax
Lloyds Banking Group ‘Online Access Suspended’ Phishing Scam
The email is not from Lloyds. It is a phishing scam designed to trick users into giving their account login details and other personal information to Internet criminals.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Jan 31, 2014
- ✕Hoax
Facebook ‘Account Verification’ Scam
The message is a scam and not from any official Facebook Verification Team. Those who follow the link will be tricked into installing a rogue Facebook app and participating in bogus online surveys.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Jan 28, 2014
- ✕Hoax
Royal Caribbean International ‘Vacation Package’ Like-Farming and Survey Scam
The messages and Page are part of a typical like-farming and survey scam and have no connection to the real Royal Caribbean International.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Jan 22, 2014
- ✕Hoax
Fake Picture: ‘Thailand Snake Girl’ – Serpentosis Malianorcis
Of course, the message is just a silly hoax and the image is the result of digital tomfoolery. There is no snake girl. Nor are there any credible references to a condition called “Serpentosis Malianorcis”.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Jan 13, 2014
- ✕Hoax
Satire – Pope Francis and the ‘Third Vatican Council’
The claims are untrue. The report comes from the satirical website Diversity Chronicle and is a work of fiction. There is no Third Vatican Council and Pope Francis made no such announcements.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Jan 8, 2014
- ✕Hoax
Satire – ’18 Million Birds Dead New Year’s Eve’
The claims in the message are false. The report originates from the satirical website “RockCity Times” and is a work of fiction. The image has been digitally manipulated. The original photograph showed only a scattering of dead birds.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Jan 3, 2014
- ✕Hoax
‘My Home is Burning’ Facebook Phishing and Malware Scam
The message comes from a hijacked Facebook account. The friend’s house is not burning and there is no video. Those who click the link will be taken to a bogus Facebook page designed to steal their Facebook login details.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Dec 29, 2013
- ✕Hoax
AT&T ‘You Have a New Voice Mail’ Malware Email
The message is not from AT&T and the attached file does not contain a missed voicemail. Instead, the attachment harbours a malicious.exe file hidden within a.zip file. Opening the.exe file can install malware on the user’s computer.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Dec 20, 2013
- ✕Hoax
Tall Tale – Bad Little Boy’s Threatening Letter to Santa
The story is almost certainly fictional. The story comes from the British tabloid newspaper, Sunday Sport, which specializes in publishing ludicrous and fanciful nonsense.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Dec 10, 2013
- ✕Hoax
American Express ‘Card Not Present’ Phishing Scam Email
The email is not from American Express. It is a phishing scam designed to panic people into giving their credit card details and other personal information to cybercriminals.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Dec 6, 2013
- ✕Hoax
‘Prayer For The Nation’ Falsely Attributed to Billy Graham
The prayer is not the work of Billy Graham, nor is it recent. In fact, Pastor Bob Russell of Southeast Christian Church wrote the prayer in 1995.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Dec 2, 2013
- ✕Hoax
PayPal ‘Confirm Your Identity’ Malware Emails
The message is not from PayPal. Links in the bogus message open a website that harbours malware. This message, which purports to be from online Payment company PayPal, claims that recipients must click a link to confirm their identity and activate their…
Hoax-Slayer · English · Nov 19, 2013
- ✕Hoax
Warning Claims ALDI Beef Products Contain 100% Horsemeat
The message is both out-dated and highly misleading. Back in early 2013, horsemeat was indeed found in some products sold by ALDI and several other grocery outlets. But, the contamination affected products sold in the UK and Ireland.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Nov 19, 2013
- ✕Hoax
Chinese Teleportation Road Rescue Video
Surprise, surprise, the video does not show a genuine teleportation event. In fact, the video was produced with the help of some clever editing and actors.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Nov 11, 2013
- ✕Hoax
‘Freedom Award Lottery Promotion Agency’ Facebook Page Scam
The Facebook Page is part of an advance fee lottery scam. There are no prizes and the lottery is not legitimate. It attempts to trick people into sending money and personal information to criminals.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Nov 7, 2013
Entries are collected from public fact-checking sites and link back to the original article.