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
Mr Clean Magic Erasers Contain Formaldehyde Hoax
This emailed warning claims that Mr Clean Magic Erasers contain formaldehyde and are potentially dangerous to users, especially children.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Jul 21, 2006
- ✓CredibleVerified
Liquid Candy Laryngospasm Warning
True, but message could be misleading. I began receiving enquiries about this email forward in late May 2006. The message is a warning from a mother and relates the experience of a child who suffered a laryngospasm after swallowing a form of liquid candy.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Jun 15, 2006
- ✓CredibleVerified
Mold in Pancake Mix Warning
This “Dear Abby” article was first published in various newspapers during April 2006 and is now circulating via email and online. Although the experience of the 14-year-old child described in the message has not been verified, the core information is factual.
Hoax-Slayer · English · May 19, 2006
- ✕Hoax
Mold in Pancake Mix Warning
Message warns that mold in old pancake mix can cause serious health problems and claims that a person died after eating mold-contaminated pancakes. IMPORTANT FYI. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE READ THIS. ESPECIALLY ALL YOU PANCAKE LOVERS. THANKS.
Hoax-Slayer · English · May 19, 2006
- ✕Hoax
Cruise Control Hydroplane Warning
The message contains some valid information, but is nevertheless misleading and alarmist. Using cruise control in wet conditions certainly can be dangerous but it will NOT cause your vehicle to speed up and fly through the air.
Hoax-Slayer · English · May 3, 2006
- ✕Hoax
AIDS From Contaminated Take Away Food Warning
The claims in the message are untrue. There are no credible reports that support the claims and it is exceptionally unlikely that HIV could be transmitted in the way described in the messages.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Apr 7, 2006
- ✓CredibleVerified
Cadbury Chocolate Egg Recall in Canada
In early March 2006, warning messages about a recall of certain Cadbury chocolate products in Canada began circulating via email and online outlets.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Mar 24, 2006
- ✕Hoax
Ifyoubelieve
A number of different chain letters have been distributed across the internet, asking people to say if they believed in God. The chain letter is a waste of time and bandwidth, and often include the email address of an innocent party.
Sophos · English · Mar 14, 2006
- ✕Hoax
Lipstick
The following chain letter has been widely distributed across the internet. Cancer Research UK has confirmed that it is not true. Users should simply delete the email, and not forward it onto their friends and colleagues.
Sophos · English · Mar 8, 2006
- ✕Hoax
Spirit Airlines Flight Giveaway Hoax
This forwarded email message began circulating in December 2005 and claims that Spirit Airlines is giving away free air travel to those who forward the message to at least five people. However, the claim is totally unfounded.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Jan 18, 2006
- ✕Hoax
AmyBruce
This chain letter has been spread around the internet since the late 1990s. The email is false, and the Make-A-Wish foundation has a longstanding policy of not participating in chain letter campaigns.
Sophos · English · Jan 10, 2006
- ✕Hoax
Use Left Ear For Mobile Phone Warning
The claims in the message remain unsubstantiated. While there are genuine concerns about possible health risks related to mobile phone use, there is no evidence to suggest that using the left ear will in any way decrease such risks.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Jan 6, 2006
- ✕Hoax
Eye Of God Image – Hubble Telescope Email
The image is genuine, but the description includes false information. The image included in this email forward does indeed represent a real celestial object. However, the description that arrives with the image is inaccurate.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Dec 13, 2005
- ✕Hoax
Champagnelovers
This chain letter has been spread across the internet. Of course, it is not true. The text of the chain letter reads as follows: FW: Champers Hello all Champagne lovers!
Sophos · English · Oct 27, 2005
- ✕Hoax
Cell Phone Charging Danger Warning Email
This may be possible if the equipment is faulty, but the warning highly exaggerates the risk of such injuries under normal working conditions. Versions of this warning email have now been circulating for several years.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Sep 9, 2005
- ✕Hoax
GiantMars
The following chain letter has distributed across the internet since 2003, and regularly resurfaces towards the end of the month of August.
Sophos · English · Aug 31, 2005
- ✕Hoax
Half Human – Half Pig: Weird Photo of Suckling Mother and Babies
The photograph is of an artist’s sculpture and is not an image of real creatures. This rather intriguing photograph is currently circulating via email.
Hoax-Slayer · English · May 17, 2005
- ✕Hoax
Are Email Petitions Useful?
If you have been using email for any length of time, at some point you have probably received an email in the form of a petition. The message requests you to “sign” the petition by adding your name before sending it on to others in your address book.
Hoax-Slayer · English · May 10, 2005
- ✕Hoax
Charity Funds Advance Fee Scams
Advance fee scammers often claim that they need your assistance in distributing a large sum of money to charities. They often pretend to be devout Christians intent on doing good work before they die.
Hoax-Slayer · English · May 5, 2005
- ✕Hoax
Prime Minister Howard – Muslims Out Of Australia
Contains elements of truth, but is highly misleading and inaccurate Update: 2009 In early 2009, an altered version of the message falsely claimed that it was then Australia’s Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd who made the comments.
Hoax-Slayer · English · Apr 27, 2005
Entries are collected from public fact-checking sites and link back to the original article.