Week ending: 06/29/08
1. 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
2. 'Postcard' Virus Warning
Email alert warns of "the worst virus ever" circulating in the form of an attachment labeled "POSTCARD." Status: False
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. Ball Girl's Amazing Catch (video)
Viral video shows a young ball girl bounding up the outfield fence to catch a foul ball in a baseball game. Status: Fake
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. Pit Bull vs. Porcupine (Photos)
Emailed images show the result of an unfortunate encounter between a "pit bull" and a porcupine. Status: Mislabeled
12. Listerine as Mosquito Repellent
Forwarded email claims spraying an outside area with Listerine mouthwash repels and/or kills every mosquito in the vicinity. Status: Dubious
13. 'Do Not Call' List for Cell Phones
Forwarded email warns that a directory of cell phone numbers will soon be published and urges users to enter their cell phone numbers on the federal 'Do Not Call' registry to prevent unsolicited calls from telemarketers. Status: Mostly false
14. '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
15. Richard Gere and the Gerbil
Hollywood rumor claims Richard Gere was rushed to the emergency rumor of Cedars Sinai Hospital to have a live Gerbil removed from his rectum. Status: False
16. Camel Spiders in Iraq (Photo)
Emailed photo taken by U.S. soldiers stationed in Iraq shows a pair of deadly, flesh-eating insects known as camel spiders. Status: False caption
17. Half-Human, Half-Animal (Photo)
Circulating via email, an unsettling photograph of what appears to be a half-human, half-animal creature suckling her hybrid offspring. Status: Mislabeled
18. Obama Isn't a Natural-Born 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 U.S. Status: False
19. 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
20. 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
21. Shark Attacks Helicopter (Photo)
Photo purporting to show a great white shark lunging out of the water to attack a scuba diver dangling from a helicopter ladder. Status: Fake
22. Nostradamus Predicted 9/11
Emailed "quatrain" purportedly written by Nostradamus predicted the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. Status: False
23. Hercules the 'Liger' (Photos)
Emailed photos of a 10-foot "liger" (a cross between a lion and a tiger) named Hercules. Status: Authentic
24. Why the Ocean Is So Salty
Is it true that a blue whale produces over 400 gallons of sperm when it ejaculates, and that explains the saltiness of the ocean? Status: False
25. Unsafe to Drink Bottled Water Left in Car
Forwarded message warns women not to drink bottled water that has been left in a car for any length of time because, supposedly, the heat releases cancer-causing toxins which "leak" from the plastic into the water. Status: False
Newly Added / Updated:
1. Propane Tank Warning
Email alert warns purchasers of propane tanks to avoid buying tanks with blue or green residue around the valve, an indication they may be contaminated with anhydrous ammonia. Status: Overblown
