Billy Evans, the Boy who Needs a Body Transplant–Humorous Fiction! The Truth: This is obviously satire about all the eRumors that appeal for forwarded emails to help sick people. We’ve had a surprising number of inquiries, however, from people asking about it.
The Little Boy Who Was Helped by “Birdies” While Trapped Beneath a Garage Door–Unproven! Summary of eRumor:An inspirational story said to be told by a man named Lloyd Glenn. His three-year-old son, Brian, was nearly crushed to death by a garage door. After hospitalization and recovery, the boy told his parents vivid accounts of what …
The Little boy who was helped by "Birdies" while trapped beneath a garage door-Unproven! Read More »
Anthrax Information Page Because of the concerns over anthrax in the United States, here is a list of authoritative links that can help separate fact from fiction. What is anthrax?Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. We found a lot of useful information posted at: Centers for Disease …
A Particular Kind of Envelope Associated with Deaths from anthrax–Fiction! Summary of eRumor:This is an anthrax warning. The writer says he or she got a call from a good source at the Centers for Disease Control saying that there have been 7 deaths from anthrax coming in the mail, all of them in the same …
Anthrax-deaths associated with a particular kind of envelope-Fiction! Read More »
Forward Emails about Savannah Foraker and She’ll Get Financial Help for Her Illness-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: This email says it’s from Antonia Foraker of Delight, West Virginia and that her daughter Savannah has a rare blood disease. The email says that local businesses have offered to pay a nickel for each email that is forwarded …
Savannah Foraker-forward emails to help with her medical costs-Fiction! Read More »
Crooks are Getting Enough Information from www.anybirthday.com to Commit Identity Theft-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: This message says that a friend of the writer got a warning from the IRS about www.anybirthday.com and that criminals are using it to steal personal information and Social Security numbers. It says that the crooks can get the birth information from the …
Anybirthday.com-crooks using the site for identity theft-Fiction! Read More »
AOL Is Splitting From The Internet-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: This email says that effective April 15, AOL is separating itself from the Internet and will operate on its own. People will not be able to send and receive email between AOL and the rest of the Internet and, according to the email, AOL regards itself as …
AOL Is Splitting from the Internet and setting up its own technology-Fiction! Read More »
AOL and Intel Discussing a Merger and if You Forward an Email About it, They’ll Send Money-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: AOL and Intel are merging and to keep the value of their merger high, they are conducting an email test. It’s to keep the email usage of AOL at a peak level. If you forward …
AOL and Intel-get cash for forwarding an email about a merger-Fiction! Read More »
A Security Hole in AOL Instant Messenger–Truth! but Resolved! Summary of eRumor:1-03-02 A warning that says that a security hole has been discovered in AOL Instant Messenger that can allow hackers to access your computer. The Truth: This was true, but a spokesman for AOL, Andrew Weinstein, says there were no security breaches that they’ve …
AOL Instant Messenger security hole-Truth! but Resolved! Read More »
Focus on “Amber Alerts” The term “Amber Alert” is being used a lot with stories about missing children. The Amber Alert system originated in Arlington, Texas after nine-year-old Amber Hagerman was abducted and murdered in 1996. A quick response is important in child abductions. A report in Time Magazine said that seventy-four percent of children …
