In early March 2022, as wild rumors, lies, half-truths, and weaponized disinformation campaigns lit up social media amid Russia’s war against Ukraine, posts began to appear referencing leaked Russian plans for “public executions” the
Publication: Warnings
Truth or Fiction?→ Foreign Influence Agents Goaded Trump Forums After U.S. Elections, Researchers Say
Foreign agents — particularly those working from or on behalf of Russia — were active on Donald Trump-themed forums in the weeks and months leading up to the January 6 2021 coup attempt at the United States Capitol, a new report says. Accor
Truth or Fiction?→ As U.S. Election Looms, Agitprop Floods Social Media Platforms
In the days leading up to the 2020 U.S. presidential election, the disinformation that has been a hallmark of the Trump campaign, then administration, then campaign again reached new heights with political smears, Soviet-style weaponized conspiracy t
Truth or Fiction?→ Razor Blades on Slides: Urban Legend or Legitimate Risk?
A meme shared by the page “Explore Talent” (archived here) including several images alongside a warning about razor blades purportedly affixed to playground equipment such as slides has been circulating on social media for years: The te
Truth or Fiction?→ Should Anglers Beware of Snakes Hiding Inside Fish?
A September 2015 warning shared by the official-sounding Northwestern PA Sportsmen Facebook page (archived here) seems to make the rounds on social media in perpetuity: Beneath a photograph of what appears to be a snake inside the mouth of a large
Truth or Fiction?→ Stores Recall Frozen Vegetables After Listeria Outbreak Kills Nine-Misleading!
Stores Recall Frozen Vegetables After Listeria Outbreak Kills Nine-Misleading! Summary of eRumor: Social media posts warn that grocery stores have recalled frozen vegetables after a listeria outbreak killed nine. The Truth: Supermarkets in Austria, Den
Truth or Fiction?→ Camp Fire Story: Under Armour Clothing is Not Fireproof-Undetermined!
Camp Fire Story: Under Armour Clothing is Not Fireproof-Undetermined! Summary of eRumor: A Facebook post warns of a girl who was badly burned while wearing Under Armour clothing near a camp fire. The Truth: Without key details, there’s no way to
Truth or Fiction?→ Bushes Baked Beans Issues Recall-Outdated!
Bush’s Baked Beans Issues Recall-Outdated! Summary of eRumor: Bush’s Baked Beans has recalled three kinds of beans because of defective cans. The Truth: Bushes Baked Beans issued a product recall in July 2017, and it was re-reported as brea
Truth or Fiction?→ FBI’s Urgent Request: Reboot Your Router to Prevent Russian Malware-Truth!
FBI’s Urgent Request: Reboot Your Router to Prevent Russian Malware-Truth! Summary of eRumor: After taking control of a domain used in a massive Russian cyberattack, the FBI urged internet users to reboot their routers. The Truth: The U.S. Depart
Truth or Fiction?→ Photo Shows What Tick Eggs Look Like-Fiction!
Photo Shows What Tick Eggs Look Like-Reported as Fiction! Summary of eRumor: A photo making the rounds on social media shows a tick eggs and warns viewers to burn it if they see it. The Truth: This photo has been circulating since at least 2015, a
Truth or Fiction?→ Type “BFF” on Facebook to See If Your Account is Secure-Fiction!
Type “BFF” on Facebook to See If Your Account is Secure-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg “invented” the term BFF (short for best friends forever) and you can type BFF into Facebook to see if your account
Truth or Fiction?→ Officials Warn About Poison Injected into Water Bottles-Reported as Fiction!
Officials Warn About Poison Injected into Water Bottles-Reported as Fiction! Summary of eRumor: Warnings that someone is injecting poising into water bottles circulated on social media in March 2018. The Truth: There have been scattered reports about p
Truth or Fiction?→ Target Issues Massive Easter Egg Recall, Warnings About Water Absorbing Eggs-Outdated!
Target Issues Massive Easter Egg Recall, Warnings About Water Absorbing Easter Eggs-Outdated! Summary of eRumor: Warnings about Target issuing a massive Easter egg recall for toy eggs that grow bigger and hatch when they absorb water circulated in earl
Truth or Fiction?→ Deadly Klebsiella Plague from China Poses Public Health Threat to U.S.-Mostly Fiction!
Deadly Klebsiella Plague from China Poses Public Health Threat to U.S.-Mostly Fiction! Summary of eRumor: The deadly Klebsiella plague from China is coming to the United States, and citizens have been warned to take action. The Truth: Chinese rese
Truth or Fiction?→ Facebook Limiting Number of Friends Posts That Can Appear in Your Newsfeed-Mostly Fiction!
Facebook Limiting Number of Friends Posts That Can Appear in Your Newsfeed-Mostly Fiction! Summary of eRumor: Facebook is limiting the number of friends’ posts that can appear in your news feeds unless you take specific action to stop it. The Tru
Truth or Fiction?→ Facebook Users Warn About Tamiflu Side Effects in Children, Including Homicidal Tendencies-Unproven!
Facebook Users Warn About Tamiflu Side Effects in Children, Including Homicidal Tendencies-Unproven! Summary of eRumor: Facebook user Heather Hanford described her son, Isaac’s, reaction to Tamiflu. Also, Facebook user Melissa Rodriguez said her
Truth or Fiction?→ Thieves Cloning Auto Door Lock Codes, Breaking Into Cars-Truth!
Thieves Cloning Car Remote Codes, Breaking Into Cars-Truth! Summary of eRumor: Thieves are using wireless devices to clone auto door lock codes transmitted by wireless key fobs, allowing them to break into cars. The Truth: Rumors about thieves cloning
Truth or Fiction?→ Prayer Requests for Heaven Ray Cox, Kidnapped 15-year-old-Truth!
Prayer Requests for Heaven Ray Cox, Kidnapped 15-year-old-Truth! Summary of eRumor: Prayer requests for Heaven Ray Cox, a 15-year-old Texas girl, circulated on Facebook in November 2017. The Truth: Prayer requests for Heaven Ray Cox that circulated in
Truth or Fiction?→ Warning: Don’t Accept Friend Request from Facebook Hacker Andrea Wilson-Fiction!
Don’t Accept Friend Request from Facebook Hacker Andrea Wilson-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: Social media posts warn not to accept friend requests from Facebook hacker Andrea Wilson. The Truth: A warning about a Facebook hacker named Andrea Wilson
Truth or Fiction?→ 81% of Dollar Store Products Contain Chemicals Linked to Learning Disabilities-Misleading!
81% of Dollar Store Products Contain Chemicals Linked to Learning Disabilities-Misleading! Summary of eRumor: A study has found that 81 percent of dollar store products contain unsafe levels of chemicals linked to learning disabilities. The Truth: Misl
Truth or Fiction?→ Facebook Warnings About the Bad Rabbit Ransomware Virus-Mostly Truth!
Facebook Warnings About the Bad Rabbit Ransomware Virus-Mostly Truth! Summary of eRumor: In October 2017, warnings surfaced about a ransomware virus known as “Bad Rabbit” that lures its victims in by posing as an Adobe Flash update install
Truth or Fiction?→ Facebook Warnings About the Bad Rabbit Malware Virus-Mostly Truth!
Facebook Warnings About the Bad Rabbit Ransomeware Virus-Mostly Truth! Summary of eRumor: In October 2017, warnings surfaced about a ransomware virus known as “Bad Rabbit” that lures its victims in by posing as an Adobe Flash update instal
Truth or Fiction?→ Police Warn Creepy Clowns Plan Halloween Night Purge-Fiction!
Police Warn Creepy Clowns Plan Halloween Night Purge-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: Threats about creepy clowns planning a Halloween night purge were sent to schools and businesses in October 2017, prompting police and the Department of Homeland Security
Truth or Fiction?→ Searching “Following Me” on Facebook Reveals Secret Followers, Staklers-Fiction!
Searching “Following Me” on Facebook Reveals Secret Followers-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: By going to the “blocking” tab on Facebook and searching for the phrase “following me” a list of unwanted and/or secret follow
Truth or Fiction?→ Do Not Accept Friend Request From James Woods on Facebook-Fiction!
Do Not Accept Friend Request From James Woods on Facebook-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: Social media users have been warned not to accept a friend request from James Woods on Facebook because he’s a hacker who can gain access to all of their contac
Truth or Fiction?→ Popcorn Carnival Video Virus Attacking Phones Via WhatsApp-Fiction!
Popcorn Carnival Video Virus Attacking Phones Via WhatsApp-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: WhatsApp users have been warned that a video called “popcorn carnival” or “carnival of popcorn” on WhatsApp has a virus that can destroy user
Truth or Fiction?→ Phantom “JAJKET” Item Shows Up on Walmart Receipts, Shoppers Charged $10-Investigation Pending!
Phantom “JAJKET” Item Shows Up on Walmart Receipts, Shoppers Charged $10-Investigation Pending! Summary of eRumor: Facebook posts warn shoppers to watch out for a phantom item that appears on receipts as “jajket 000000000001K”
Truth or Fiction?→ Walmart Jelly Sandals, Jelly Shoes Contain Lead-Unproven!
Walmart Jelly Sandals, Jelly Shoes Contain Lead-Unproven! Summary of eRumor: Warnings that Walmart jelly sandals and jelly shoes contain lead spread across social media in June 2017. The Truth: Despite widespread warnings that Walmart jelly shoes an
Truth or Fiction?→ Warning: Do Not Accept Friend Request from John Jacob Jingleheimer Schimdit-Fiction!
Warning: Do Not Accept Friend Request from John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: Social media users have been warned not to accept a friend request from John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt because “his name will become your na
Truth or Fiction?→ Don’t Accept Facebook Friend Request From Hacker Jayden K. Smith-Fiction!
Don’t Accept Facebook Friend Request From Hacker Jayden K. Smith-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: Posts warning Facebook users not to accept a friend request from Jayden K. Smith because he’s a hacker who will immediately gain access to all y
Truth or Fiction?→ Warning: New Snapchat Feature Shares Your Child’s Location-Truth!
Warning: New SnapChat Feature Shares Your Child’s Location-Truth! Summary of eRumor: Parents have been warned that a new SnapChat feature shares your child’s location with other users by displaying it on a map. The Truth: A new SnapChat feat
Truth or Fiction?→ Warning: Do Not Accept Friend Request from Anwar Jitou, He’s a Hacker-Fiction!
Warning: Do Not Accept Friend Request from Anwar Jitou, He’s a Hacker-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: Posts circulating on Facebook warn users not to accept friend requests from Anwar Jitou because he’s a hacker. The Truth: Warnings not to acc
Truth or Fiction?→ Warning: ISIS Sending invites to WhatsApp Interschools Group-Fiction!
Warning: ISIS Sending invites to WhatsApp Interschools Group-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: ISIS is using a WhatsApp group called “Interschools” as a recruitment tool; users are not able to exit the group once they join, and ISIS can use it
Truth or Fiction?→ Warnings About Tick-Transmitted Powassan Virus-Truth!
Warnings About Tick-Transmitted Powassan Virus-Truth! Summary of eRumor: Warnings about Powassan Virus, a virus transmitted by ticks that can be deadly or cause permanent neurological symptoms, circulated as summer of 2017 began. The Truth: Powassa
Truth or Fiction?→ Dog Owners Warned About Explosive Tennis Balls Laying on Grass-Truth!
Dog Owners Warned About Explosive Tennis Balls Laying on Grass-Truth! Summary of eRumor: Dog owners have been warned by police to watch out for exploding tennis balls found laying in grass that can severely injure or kill dogs. The Truth: Warnings abou
Truth or Fiction?→ Cosmic Rays from Mars will Damage Phones, Electronics-Fiction!
Cosmic Rays from Mars can Damage Phones, Electronics-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: Singapore television warns readers to turn off their cell phones to avoid damage from cosmic rays from mars that could cause damage and personal harm. The Truth: Warni
Truth or Fiction?→ Blue Whale Suicide Challenge Behind Rash of Teen Deaths-Unproven!
Blue Whale Suicide Challenge Behind Rash of Teen Deaths-Unproven! Summary of eRumor: An app called “Blue Whale” subjects users to a suicide challenge that claimed the life of at least 130 teen suicides in Russia over a short period of time,
Truth or Fiction?→ Dunkin Donuts Giving Away Coupon for a Dozen Donuts-Fiction!
Dunkin Donuts Giving Away Free Box of Donuts-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: Dunkin Donuts is giving away coupons for free boxes of a donuts to celebrate the franchise’s anniversary. The Truth: Dunkin Donuts is not giving away donuts to celebrate
Truth or Fiction?→ April 7th iPhones Will Be At Mercy of Turkish Crime Family-Undetermined!
April 7th iPhones Will Be At Mercy of Turkish Crime Family-Undetermined! Summary of eRumor: A syndicate of hackers called “Turkish Crime Family” has threatened to remotely wipe the data from hundreds of millions of iPhones on April 7th un
Truth or Fiction?→ Fake Xanax Pill Kills Nine in Florida; 50 Times Stronger than Heroin-Truth! & Outdated!
Fake Xanax Pill Kills Nine in Florida; 50 Times Stronger than Heroin-Truth! & Outdated! Summary of eRumor: Authorities have warned that fake Xanax pills have killed nine people in Florida and contain Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times stronger