Using a Steam Iron on Suspicious Letters Could Kill Anthrax–Truth! But Not Recommended! Summary of eRumor:A way to kill anthrax that comes in the mail: iron it with a steam iron. This email says bioterrorism expert Ken Alibek made that recommendation during a congressional hearing. He said that hot, moist steam ironed through …
U.S. Senate Bill S. 1618 Allows “Spam” to Come to Your Email Box As Long As The Email Complies With the Law-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: An unsolicited commercial email comes to you with the message at the bottom that says: This message is sent in compliance with the new email bill section 301. …
According to a new law, email Spam is okay-Fiction! Read More »
Take Action by July 1 to Prevent Your Personal Information from Being Sold by Financial Institutions-Truth! & Fiction! Summary of eRumor: An email warning says you need to take personal action by July 1 to keep your name from being sold to mailing lists by some of the companies you do business with. …
The FCC Proposes Charging Extra For Internet Access to Make Up For Lost Postage Due to Email Activity-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: A widely distributed email warns that the U.S. Federal Communications Commission is proposing adding a five cents per message charge for sending emails, authorizing phone companies to charge extra for the time spent …
The FCC proposes charging extra for Internet access-Fiction! Read More »
The Meaning of the Folding of the American Flag-Truth! & Fiction! Summary of eRumor: Message alleges that there is meaning to each fold of the American flag, for example, at a military funeral when the flag is presented to the family of the person who died. Most of them are of spiritual and religious …
The meaning of the folding of the American flag-Truth! & Fiction! Read More »
A chain email makes a number of claims about Bill and Hillary Clintons’ government pensions and that the Clintons charge the Secret Service $10,000 a month in rent.
Are there common characteristics to eRumors, hoaxes, and urban legends that can tip us off that they may not be true? I used to confidently say yes and there are some factors about eRumors that are common, but, in my view, it has become more difficult to tell. I used to trust my “baloney detector” …
Is There a Way of Knowing Whether a Story is False? Read More »
