O'Connor emotionally pleaded for help and opened up about her struggles with mental illness in a rambling Facebook video posted on 3 August 2017.
Washington Post→ Fact-checking the Stephen Miller-Jim Acosta exchange on immigration
A reader asked us to fact-check a recent debate between CNN correspondent Jim Acosta and White House senior policy adviser Stephen Miller during a recent White House briefing. The Fact Checker is not a media critic, and we generally do not
Snopes→ Did Justin Bieber and Katy Perry Say Pedophiles Run the Music Industry?
Both pop singers were targeted by fake news stories reporting that they had exposed a pedophile ring in control of the music business.
PolitiFact→ Seth Rich: Separating fact and speculation
People who work in politics and suffer violent death are not often left in peace by conspiracy theorists. These aides and staffers don’t simply die, the theories go -- they die for a reason. The story of the 2016 shooting death of Democratic part
Snopes→ Official: Attempt to Cheat Drug Test is Thwarted by Loud Pop
The Monroe County district attorney says a popping noise was from a man using safety scissors to cut open a condom he had filled with clean urine.
Snopes→ Online Store Selling ‘Horse Burkas’ for Muslim Customers?
A satirical web site poked fun at Islamophobia by claiming fly protection gear for horses was religious clothing.
Snopes→ Lawyer: UK Model’s ‘Strange’ Tale of Italian Kidnap is True
A British model says she was lured to Italy, drugged, shoved in a suitcase, and held in an isolated farmhouse for almost a week.
Snopes→ Third Boy Scout Dies After Sailboat Strikes Power Line on Lake
A candlelight vigil was held in Hallsville, Texas for Boy Scouts killed in a 5 August 2017 boating accident.
Truth or Fiction?→ Starbucks “Dreamer Day” on August 11 Offers Free Products-Fiction!
Starbucks “Dreamer Day” on August 11th Offers Free Products to Illegal Immigrants-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: A Starbucks “Dreamer Day” promotion on August 11, 2017, offers discounts or free products to all undocumented immigran
Snopes→ 62°C Temperatures in Kuwait Cause Trees to Burst into Flames?
Despite a series of images showing melted street lights and trees on fire, the temperature in Kuwait has not reached 62 degrees Celsius.
Truth or Fiction?→ John McCain Started the Aircraft Carrier USS Forrestal Fire-Fiction!
John McCain Started the Aircraft Carrier USS Forrestal Fire that Killed 134 Sailors-Fiction! Summary of eRumor: Senator John McCain started the 1967 aircraft carrier USS Forrestal fire that killed 134 sailors. The Truth: John McCain wasn’t to bla
Snopes→ Did an Australian Teen Get Attacked by Flesh-Eating Sea Bugs?
The 16-year-old was likely bitten by an unusually large number of sea fleas -- not sea lice, as was originally reported.
Snopes→ Starbucks Dreamer Day
Starbucks Dreamer Day was a hoax concocted on 4chan's /pol/ forum as a way to drive a wedge between liberal groups.
Snopes→ North Korea Vows “Thousand-fold” Revenge for U.N. Sanctions
The U.N. Security Council earlier voted to impose $1 billion in economic sanctions against North Korea.
Hoax-Slayer→ HOAX – ‘Maggie From Sweden Hacker Alert’
Circulating social media message warns users not to accept a friend request from a person called 'Maggie from Sweden' because she is a hacker. The post HOAX – ‘Maggie From Sweden Hacker Alert’ appeared first on Hoax-Slayer.
Hoax-Slayer→ Pointless Facebook Warning – Hackers Posting Insulting Messages or Sexual Content In Your Name
'Hacker' alert messages circulating on Facebook claim that, without your knowledge, hackers are posting insulting or sexual messages that appear to come from you onto your Facebook Timeline. The post Pointless Facebook Warning – Hackers Posting I
Hoax-Slayer→ Frederic Pretty Facebook Hacker Hoax
According to an urgent sounding ALL CAPS message that is currently gaining momentum on Facebook, users should not accept friend requests from someone named Frederic Pretty because he is a hacker. The post Frederic Pretty Facebook Hacker Hoax appeared f
Hoax-Slayer→ Destiny Valle Facebook Page Hacker ‘Warning’
This breathless "hacker warning" has recently joined the hundreds of other pointless, misleading and inaccurate "security alert" messages that circulate continually on Facebook. The post Destiny Valle Facebook Page Hacker ‘Warning’ appear
Hoax-Slayer→ Dubious Facebook ‘Security Alert’ – Obama Nation Hackers
According to yet another dubious "security alert" on Facebook, users should avoid clicking links couched as requests for profile information from Mitt Romney. The post Dubious Facebook ‘Security Alert’ – Obama Nation Hackers appeare
Hoax-Slayer→ Hoax – Professional Hacker ‘Faceb Hu’ Taking Control Of Computers Via Friend Requests
This "urgent" Facebook-driven message warns users to watch out for someone who goes by the name of FACEB HU, because he is a professional hacker. The post Hoax – Professional Hacker ‘Faceb Hu’ Taking Control Of Computers Via Friend Re
Hoax-Slayer→ FB Security ‘Hacker’ and ‘Virus’ Warning
According to an urgent sounding warning that circulated via Facebook, users should be fearful of any message claiming to be from FB Security because "it is a hacker". The post FB Security ‘Hacker’ and ‘Virus’ Warning appeared fi
Washington Post→ President Trump’s claim of Obamacare ‘bailouts’ for insurance companies
“If a new HealthCare Bill is not approved quickly, BAILOUTS for Insurance Companies and BAILOUTS for Members of Congress will end very soon!” — President Trump, in a tweet, July 29, 2017 “Bailout” is a pejorative term in Washingto
ABC News→ AP FACT CHECK: Trump didn’t receive laudatory calls
AP FACT CHECK: Contrary to Trump's claims, he didn't gets laudatory calls after all and other calls weren't as positive
Hoax-Slayer→ WestJet Free Tickets Giveaway Facebook Scam
Canadian airline WestJet joins a long list of other airlines that have been targeted in Facebook survey scams in recent years. The post WestJet Free Tickets Giveaway Facebook Scam appeared first on Hoax-Slayer.
Hoax-Slayer→ Facebook Page Hacker Warning Message – ‘Visit The New Facebook’ Links
Message warns users that have a Page on Facebook to watch out for links with the words "Visit The New Facebook" or "Tour of New Facebook" because following such links will allow a hacker to steal their information and remove them from their own page. T
Snopes→ Couple Kills Dolphin?
Claims that photographs depict a couple who killed a dolphin by urinating in its blowhole were inaccurate, although it's true that handling dolphins can kill them.
Snopes→ ‘Life Is Hard; It’s Even Harder When You’re Stupid’
Neither actor John Wayne nor any of the characters he portrayed ever said 'Life is hard; it's even harder when you're stupid.'
Hoax-Slayer→ Padlock on Facebook Home Page Hacker Warning Hoax
Message circulating on Facebook warns users that if they see a "low security" alert with a padlock icon on the top right of their Facebook page, they should ignore it because answering security questions asked by the alert can give hackers access to th
Hoax-Slayer→ Bogus Hacker Warning – ' Between First and Second Names in Facebook Chat
Message claims that if the characters "'" appear between the first and second names of the friends listed in your Facebook chat, it means that they have been hacked. It further warns that if you try to chat with these hacked friends, you will also
Hoax-Slayer→ Hacker Warning Hoax – Do Not Accept Friend Requests From Bobby Roberts
Message warns people not to accept friend requests from Bobby Roberts because he is a hacker and his name will "destroy everything". The post Hacker Warning Hoax – Do Not Accept Friend Requests From Bobby Roberts appeared first on Hoax-Slayer.
Hoax-Slayer→ Friendship Inquiries Hacker Alert Hoax
Alert posted on Facebook and other networks warns users not to accept friendship inquiries from Roland Dreyer, Matthias Damberger, Mario Sommer, Fabian Berneder or Frank Becker because they are hackers intent on destroying your hard disk. The post Frie
Hoax-Slayer→ Simon Ashton Email Hacker Hoax
Message warns that simply accepting an email from a sender called Simon Ashton (simon_25_@hotmail.co.uk) will allow him to hack your email account The post Simon Ashton Email Hacker Hoax appeared first on Hoax-Slayer.
Hoax-Slayer→ Sulfnbk.exe Virus Hoax
Email warns that a file on your computer called sulfnbk.exe is a virus and provides instructions on how to delete it The post Sulfnbk.exe Virus Hoax appeared first on Hoax-Slayer.
PolitiFact→ Donald Trump – Trump claims new U.N. sanctions cost North Korea over $1 billion
The Truth-o-Meter says: Mostly True | Trump claims new U.N. sanctions cost North Korea over $1 billion President Donald Trump applauded a new resolution passed by the United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions against North Korea and
Snopes→ Extraterrestrial Contact Law
No federal law actually prohibits U.S. citizens from having contact with extraterrestrial beings.
Snopes→ Carjacker Run Over by Truck?
Photographs purportedly showing a failed carjacker who was supposedly run over and killed by a truck he tried to commandeer don't tell the full story.
Snopes→ South Korean Spy Agency Confirms Efforts to Sway Country’s 2012 Election
The National Intelligence Service admitted to using "extra-departmental teams" to drum up support for conservative Park Geun-hye, who later resigned amid corruption charges.
Snopes→ Honor Guard at Arlington National Cemetery
A popular viral item describes the duties and obligations of honor guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
Hoax-Slayer→ ‘Vodafone Bill Is Ready’ Malware Email
Vodafone customers should watch out for fraudulent emails claiming that their Vodafone bill is ready. The post ‘Vodafone Bill Is Ready’ Malware Email appeared first on Hoax-Slayer.
Snopes→ Sgt. Gregory Hayes Killed Two Syrian Refugees for Raping His Daughter?
A popular meme proclaimed that Sgt. Gregory Hayes beat a pair of Syrian refugees to death for raping his teenaged daughter, but we found no record Hayes even exists.