1. 'Postcard' / 'Postcard from Hallmark' Virus Warning
Email alert warns of "the worst virus ever" circulating in the form of an attachment labeled "POSTCARD." Status: See details
2. Two Moons on August 27?
Email rumor says August 27 will bring the closest "encounter" between Mars and Earth in recorded history, and it will look as if there are two moons in the night sky. Status: False
3. Amazing Tsunami Picture
Emailed image purports to show the devastating tsunami of December 26, 2004 washing ashore on the Thai island of Phuket (or Indonesia, depending on version). Status: Fake
4. Close Encounter with Mars on August 27
Email hoax repeats outdated claim that during the month of August the orbits of Mars and Earth will bring the two planets closer together than they have ever been in recorded history. Status: False
5. Hercules, World's Biggest Dog (Photo)
Emailed image of a gargantuan dog named Hercules, purportedly the Guinness Record holder for World's Biggest Dog. Status: Fake
6. Breast Infestation (Photo / Video)
Emailed image and video purport to document the medical case of a female anthropologist who failed to seek treatment for a rash and wound up with an infestation of larvae in her breast. Status: Partly true
7. Facebook Is Overpopulated
Chain letter circulating among Facebook members claims the service is becoming too slow due to overpopulation and members must prove they are active by forwarding the message to others. Status: False
8. Barack Obama Is a Muslim
Email rumor alleges that U.S. presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama is a Muslim who has lied about his religious background, including his claim to being a devout Christian. Status: False
9. World's Tallest Woman (Photos)
Emailed photos purport to show the world's tallest woman at 7 feet, 4 inches tall and 320 pounds. Status: False
10. Cell Phone Popcorn (Video)
Viral video purports to show a group of people aiming their cell phones at kernels of popcorn and causing them to pop. Status: Fake
11. Bill Gates Is Sharing His Fortune!
Email claims Microsoft and AOL have merged and that Bill Gates is promising a cash reward to everyone who forwards the message to "beta test" a new software program. Status: False
12. Jamie Lee Curtis Is a Hermaphrodite
Longstanding rumors say actress Jamie Lee Curtis was born with male sex organs and underwent a sex change operation as an infant. Status: Dubious
13. Brown Recluse Spider Bite (Photos)
Emailed photos purport to show the progressive deterioration of a wound caused by the bite of the poisonous brown recluse spider. Status: Uncertain
14. Giant Cat (Photo)
Emailed picture of a really, really big housecat. Status: Real
15. 'Eye of God' in Outer Space (Photo)
Emailed NASA photo taken by the Hubble Space Telescope has been labeled the "Eye of God" by frequent forwarders. Status: Authentic
16. Hercules the 'Liger' (Photos)
Emailed photos of a 10-foot "liger" (a cross between a lion and a tiger) named Hercules. Status: Authentic
17. UPS Virus Warning
UPS has issued a warning about a new computer virus circulating as an attachment to emails purporting to originate from the "UPS Packet Service." Status: True
18. Thieves Clone Remote Key Codes to Unlock Cars
Forwarded email urges vehicle owners to lock their cars manually instead of using a remote key, otherwise thieves might be able to clone the security code and gain entry to the vehicle. Status: False
19. Barack Obama Isn't a Natural-Born U.S. Citizen
Email rumor claims that Barack Obama is ineligible to become president because according to the laws in effect at the time of his birth he is not a natural-born citizen of the United States. Status: False
20. World Record Grizzly Bear (Photos)
Emailed pictures of a giant, 1,600-pound, man-eating grizzly bear allegedly killed in Alaska by a hunter or Forest Service employee. Status: Partly true
21. Richard Gere and the Gerbil
Several years ago, "they" say, Richard Gere was admitted into the emergency room of a Los Angeles hospital with foreign object lodged in his rectum . . . a live gerbil. Status: False
22. Mr. Rogers Was a Marine Sniper / Navy Seal
Mild-mannered children's TV show host Mr. Rogers was rumored to have had a secret former career as a trained assassin. Status: False
23. Nostradamus Predicted 9/11
Emailed "quatrain" purportedly written by Nostradamus predicted the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Status: False
24. Giant Catfish Caught in Lake Texoma (Photo)
Emailed photo of a huge catfish supposedly caught in Lake Texoma, Texas. Status: Mislabeled
25. Do They Eat Babies in China?
Do they eat babies in China? Photos circulating on the Internet purport to prove it. Status: False
New / Updated:
1. NBC Poll: In God We Trust
Forwarded email claims an NBC poll asking respondents if they believe in God yielded this result: 86% in favor of keeping the words 'In God we trust' on currency and 'under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance, 14% against. Status: Partly true
2. Olympic Bloopers
A list of alleged "Olympic Bloopers" or "Sports Bloopers" -- verbal gaffes supposedly committed by TV sportscasters during the 2008 Olympic Games. Status: False
Last updated: 08/27/08
