An indifferently capitalized and punctuated chain email turned viral social media posting has been around for many years, bearing claims that some elected officials don’t pay into Social Security: Our Senators and Congressmen don’t pay in to Social Security, and, of course, they don’t collect from it. The reason is that they have a special …
Members of Congress Don’t Have to Pay Social Security? Read More »
Forward an Email About Cracker Barrel-Receive a Gift Certificate in Response–Fiction! Summary of eRumor: Junior Johnson, the founder of Cracker Barrel, says he’s trying to reach the rural areas where his stores are not located. If you forward his email to nine of your friends, you’ll receive authorization by email for a $50 gift certificate. …
Free Cracker Barrel certificates for forwarded emails-Fiction! Read More »
The Story of the Woman in Maine Who Was Drugged and Raped by a Stranger Who Was HIV-Positive–Unproven! Summary of eRumor: A first-person account of a woman in Maine who stayed up late one night at her sister’s apartment building drinking and socializing with neighbors. She awoke the next day feeling ill and with vague …
Woman in Main who was drugged and raped-Fiction! Read More »
Burning Some Kinds of Candles in the Home Can Cause Indoor Pollution-Truth! Summary of eRumor: An email is making the rounds that talks about a woman in Texas whose family has experienced a variety of health problems which she says are due to the lead content of some candles. The email warns that burning candles …
Beware of potential pollution from certain candles-Truth! Read More »
Dangerous Gas in Car Air Conditioners is Causing Lung Cancer and Alzheimer’s Disease-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: This email says that air conditioners in 1985 to 1998 cars are dangerously toxic and are spewing a gas that is the leading cause of Alzheimer’s disease and lung cancer. The Truth: This story is filled with fiction …
Cell Phones have Caused Explosions at Gas Stations-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: There are several different versions that describe instances when explosions or fires were caused at gas stations by people using cell phones. The Truth: The bottom line is that there are no documented cases that anyone can find of gas fumes being ignited …
Cell phones have caused explosions at gas stations-Fiction! Read More »
If You Get a Call on Your Cell Phone With “!?UNAVAILABLE!?” on the Display…It’s a Virus–Fiction! Summary of eRumor: This warning says that if your cell phone rings, if you have a display that allows you to see the caller ID of the person who is calling, and if “!?UNAVAILABLE!?” appears in that display, you …
Purchase $25 Worth of “Reports” and Become a Millionaire Through a Multi-Level Marketing Business–Fiction! Summary of eRumor: This very long email promises that if you follow the instructions, you’ll be making big money. You are to send $5 to each of the 5 names on a list and receive five “reports” that you …
Make big money by purchasing and distributing "reports" at home-Fiction! Read More »
The Atheist Professor At USC Who Encountered God Through a Piece of Chalk-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: A notorious atheist professor at the University of Southern California is known for challenging students about their faith. He dramatically drops a piece of chalk to the floor saying that if God existed, he could prevent the chalk from …
Atheist in a university classroom is upstaged by a piece of chalk-Fiction! Read More »
Teenager Darren Bucklew Has a Serious Liver Condition and Forwarded Emails Will Raise Funds For His Treatment-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: A high school boy named David “Darren” Bucklew says he’s got a serious liver condition called “ostriopliosis.” If you forward emails to others, the Children’s hospital in Pittsburgh will donate to the National Disease Society …
Darren Bucklew has cancer. Forward an email for him for financial help-Fiction! Read More »
