Forward Emails to Help Pay For Cancer Treatment for 10-year-old Rachel-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: A 29 year old father who identifies himself as George Arlington says that AOL and ZD-net will give 32 cents toward medical care for his cancer-stricken daughter for every three emails a person forwards to other people. The Truth: …
Emails for a cancer victim named Rachel-Fiction! Read More »
Septer.Trojan Virus–Truth! Summary of eRumor:A virus warning about a Trojan horse virus named “Septer.Trojan.” The Truth: According to Symantec, this is true. It is an email that appears to come from the American Red Cross or the United Way and solicits donations for the victims of the terrorist attacks. It includes a form …
Virus that pretends to be a Red Cross request for donations-Truth! Read More »
Proposal to Create a “Department of Peace”–Truth! Summary of eRumor:It is alleged that Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio has introduced a bill in congress to create a new cabinet level agency called “The Department of Peace.” The Truth: This is true. According to congressman’s website, the bill would create the agency, which would …
A Drug Recall of Some Popular Cold and Sinus Medications that Contain a Substance That The FDA has banned-Truth! & Fiction! Summary of eRumor: There are several different versions of emails warning against taking medications that contain phenylpropanolamine, which is popular in cold and decongestant products as well as some weight loss products. Some …
Popular substance in cold medications pulled from the shelves-Truth!
& Fiction! Read More »
Research has shown that a well-meaning holiday warning overstates the plants’ toxicity.
Like so much online disinformation, a fearmongering copypasta involving perfume first saw light as a chain email. The text pushed the hoary claim that several women were killed by mysterious perfume samples; as we have reported before, it was later adapted to involve a non-existent hospital and “terrorist” threats. The newer version read: URGENT news …
‘Seven Women Have Died From Smelling Free Perfume Samples’ Read More »
Virus named “Osama Vs Bush” or “This War Will Affect the World Economy”–Fiction! Summary of eRumor:A virus warning that says a virus named “Osama Vs Bush” will erase your entire hard drive. If you open it, it asks “will this war affect the world economy?” The writer says it has caused major damage …
The Woman who Died of Paget’s Disease of the Nipple-Unproven! Summary of eRumor: The email tells the story of a woman who went through a variety of diagnoses and misdiagnoses before eventually dying of cancer. The warning is about “Paget’s Disease of the Nipple.” The Truth: According to many medical groups including the Mayo Clinic, …
The woman who died of Paget's disease of the nipple-Unproven! Read More »
Pasadena Police-Hotel Key Cards A false eRumor claims that those credit-card sized cards that you get in hotels and that you use as a key to get into your room can contain your confidential financial information–so don’t lose it. In 2003, a version of the eRumor started circulating saying that it had come from the …
Green Party Official Prevented From Boarding an Airliner Because of her Opposition to the Afghan War–Disputed! Summary of eRumor: Nancy Oden, USA Coordinator for the Green Party, was grabbed by armed government agents as she was about to board a plane in Bangor, Maine. She claims she was told that she was targeted …
Green Party official targeted By airport officials and blocked from flight-Disputed! Read More »
