Teens playing "Spunkball" or "Sparkball" may set you on fire-Fiction!

Keep Your Car Windows Rolled Up Because Teens Playing "Spunkball" or "Sparkball" May Set You on Fire-Fiction!

Summary of eRumor: Teenagers drive up to a car and throw what they call a "Spunkball" into the open window of another car next to them. The SPUNKBALL is a gasoline soaked rag wrapped in aluminum foil with a firecracker attacked to the outside. The firecracker is lit, the SPUNKBALL is thrown through the widow, the firecracker explodes, tearing through the think foil, and igniting the rag. The email claims people have been killed. Some versions refer to it as "Sparkball."

The Truth: This eRumor is being circulated without any information that would validate it and TruthOrFiction.com is unaware of any reports of the game being played at all, much more anyone being killed or injured from it. Also, some versions have the name and position of an insurance employee at the bottom and many have thought that meant the eRumor alert originated with the insurance company. That is merely a person who got the email from someone else and decided to pass it along, but has no personal knowledge of the origins of the story.

A real example of the story as it has been circulated:

Please Keep all windows rolled up when stopped at traffic lights, as only cars with windows down are being targeted.

Groups of teenagers have been caught, in alarming numbers, playing a new and dangerous game called Spunkball.

Spunkball consists of a group of Teens in a car pulling up to a stop light, and looking around for a car stopped near by with an open window. When one is spotted, the teens shout, "Spunkball", and throw a gasoline soaked rag that has been wrapped in aluminum foil threw the open window.

On the outside of the foil is attached a small fire cracker, with the fuse lit. When the fire cracker explodes, it shreds the foil, and the rag is ignited, causing a large flame that may catch the interior of the car on fire.

Spunkball playing has already claimed two lives, caused uncountable injuries due to burns, and caused thousands of dollars in damage to automobiles. The best defense, say authorities, is to keep all windows rolled up when stopped at traffic lights, as only cars with windows down are being targeted. If you are at a redlight and hear a shout of "Spunkball", and notice something come flying in your window, the best thing to do is to have all passengers immediately exit the vehicle.

DO NOT try to retrieve the object, as it will ignite once the fire cracker explodes. PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO EVERYONE YOU CARE ABOUT.