Old Rumor: Killer Rat Urine on Soda Cans
A popular rumor which circulated online for years states that a woman died due to Leptospirosis, which was contracted from drinking out of a soda can covered in rat urine. While the scenario is...
View ArticleClassic Fake: Buckley Family Photo
A vintage photo appears to show two children with their beheaded their mother. The photo, however, is not real. Altered Image The photo is most often referred to as the Buckley Family Photo, and has...
View ArticleUpdated: About that “Mean Moms” Movie Poster
A graphic for a movie entitled Mean Moms has been circulating online since early 2015 which features Jennifer Anison, Sandra Bullock, and Cameron Diaz as the stars. Is this real or fake? It’s Partially...
View ArticleFake This Week: Retired Postman, Rob Zombie at Oscars
A running recap of some of the more popular fake stories floating around the internet this week. Fake This Week Donald Trump didn’t admit to being an atheist in 1989. A meme in heavy circulation...
View ArticleClassic Viral Hoax: 50-Foot “Crabzilla”
An image of a 50-foot crab, dubbed “Crabzilla” was reported in Whitstable harbour in Kent in October 2014. The photo went viral before being exposed as a fake. Crabzilla Let’s first take a look at the...
View ArticleRevisiting Venus the “Two-Faced Cat”
Images of Venus the “two-faced cat” began circulating heavily online around 2012. These photos show a feline with a face featuring two different colors, separated by a straight line. The cat is real....
View ArticleCardiff Giant: Classic American Hoax
The Cardiff Giant is considered to be one of the greatest American hoaxes. It was conceived by atheist George Hull after an argument at a Methodist revival. Origin of the Cardiff Giant In 1868, while...
View ArticleBizarre Creation: “Basket Tree”
A strange tree was formed decades ago by a meticulous grafting technique. It is called the “Basket Tree.” It’s real. The photo made the Google Plus “What’s Hot” category on November 1, 2014 after it...
View ArticleClassic Viral Image: Did This Snake Eat a Human?
Does this photo show a python which consumed a drunk, passed-out man in India – or possibly a woman in South Africa? Known History of the Snake Photo The origin of the photo is unknown, and it has been...
View ArticleUrban Legend: Daddy Long Legs Spiders Are Poisonous
A longstanding urban legend holds that daddy long legs spiders are poisonous, but they are not dangerous to humans because their fangs are too short to penetrate human skin. It’s a myth. What are Daddy...
View ArticleClassic Rumor: Paul is Dead
Today we delve into a rumor that has circulated since the late 60s, that Paul McCartney of the Beatles secretly died and was replaced by a lookalike. The Mystique of The Beatles One of the most vivid...
View ArticleClassic Myth: Bulls Hate Red
A longstanding misconception holds that bulls are angered by the color red, which is why matadors use capes of this color in bullfights. Bulls Hate Red It is a classic myth perhaps perpetuated by...
View ArticleFake This Week: Scientology Taxes, Trump Supporter Killed
Here is a running recap of some of the more prominent fake stories floating around the internet this week. Fake This Week A black Trump supporter wasn’t killed during by protesters at the Chicago...
View ArticleTime Magazine Covers: For And Against Summer Vacation?
A 2015 TIME magazine cover asking what happened to summer vacation has been compared against a 2010 cover making a case against summer vacation. TIME Covers The August 2, 2010 TIME cover featured an...
View ArticlePhoto of Giant Sea Turtle: Real or Hoax?
An image circulating online shows a giant sea turtle with two people kneeling behind it. Is this photo real or fake? The image is real The turtle is closer to the camera than the people behind it,...
View ArticleElephant Painting a Portrait: Real or Hoax?
A series of videos have been making the rounds on the major social media outlets for several years which depict elephants painting. Are these videos real or fake? The videos are real. The elephants are...
View ArticleAre Black Lions Real or Fake?
Persistent rumors claim that a rare black lion exists, bolstered by photos that allegedly prove the elusive creature is real. Are black lions real or fake? The photos are fake. Black lions are not...
View ArticleClassic Hoax: 9/11 Tourist Guy
Today we look back on a classic hoax, the so-called 9/11 Tourist Guy, which is an altered photo of a man standing at the top of the twin towers as a hijacked plane approaches. 9/11 Tourist Guy Shortly...
View ArticleFake This Week: Harrison Ford Endorses Trump, Purple Ladybugs
Today begins my 8th installment of Fake This Week, a running recap of the most popular bogus stories circulating online. Fake This Week Harrison Ford didn’t endorse Donald Trump for President. A fake...
View ArticleTrader Joe’s Isn’t Closing in 2017
A Yahoo! Style article suggests that Trader Joe’s will be closing its doors in January 2017. April Fool’s The article, entitled, “Trader Joe’s to Close All Stores by 2017, Plans to Discontinue...
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