Hoax Busters - the BIG LIST of Internet Hoaxes

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The BIG LIST of Internet Hoaxes

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NEW VIRUS (Storm Worm) - this is not a hoax

The "Storm Worm" is taking the Internet world by storm, so to speak. It is one of the most prevalent Trojan horses to come along in quite awhile. These types of worms are known as Trojans because they arrive in e-mails that have a subject line disguised as something that one would want to see. It's almost impossible to keep track of the different subject names associated with these e-mails because there are literally dozens of variants. They all work pretty much the same way, though.

A new e-mail announces the top stories at CNN, the start of World War III, Chinese missile shot down Russian satellite, or F.B.I. vs. Facebook. These are just a few of the different subject lines, and they change at any time. The e-mail states that one can see videos of whatever is mentioned in the subject line by clicking the link in the e-mail text. Clicking on the link is what leads to trouble. The link actually leads to a website which will infect the user's system with malicious code. Once on the website, the user is urged to download a file and run it on their computer. It is that file that is the problem, not the e-mail. The authors behind this worm attack are hoping to tempt curious users onto a website from which Windows PCs can be infected with malware using various browser exploits and executables disguised as videos.

Most owners of compromised computers are unsuspecting victims. They have unintentionally allowed unauthorized access and use of their computers as a vehicle to facilitate other crimes. The worm does not destroy a computer, but it does link it as part of a massive network of computers on the Internet. Those computers are then used for sending spam, spyware, or harvesting information from computers such as e-mail addresses or financial information.

The usual security tips should help protect against this worm infection. Don't open un-requested e-mail attachments, never execute files from dubious websites, and always keep anti-virus software up to date.

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These are HOAXES - they are simply not true! No big company is going to give you a GIFT CERTIFICATE (giveaway hoaxes), spamming your friends and family will not provide medical care or financial relief for an ILL OR INJURED CHILD (sympathy hoaxes), that PERFUME IS NOT ETHER (urban legends), and there is no such thing as E-MAIL TRACKING! If you receive an e-mail urging you to forward a message that contains a reference to any of these, or similar items, please DO NOT, as you will only be helping to perpetrate and perpetuate the hoax. You can read about the FIVE TELLTALE SIGNS to learn how to identify a hoax message. For a list of the top ten Internet hoaxes as compiled by Sophos Anti-Virus, click HERE. Click HERE for a list of the top ten hoax questions received by Hoax Busters.

It's worth noting that just because these are listed as hoaxes doesn't mean that a determined virus writer couldn't use the same name as one of these hoaxes on their infected file and send it out as an e-mail attachment (see Wobbler hoax below). The best way to reduce the risk of getting a real computer virus is to practice SAFE COMPUTING. Click HERE for more information about real computer viruses.

Anti-virus programs, spyware scanners, and firewalls are essential items to have, and use, for protecting your computer from attack. We have compiled some of our favorites, which you can see HERE.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #

A A Virtual Card for You ACE-? cell phone virus ACLU no crosses in govt. cemeteries Government subsidized Marines praying Advance Fee Scam see Nigerian Scam see Scams A.I.D.S. virus Open: very cool! All Seeing Eye AltaVista virus a.k.a. Londhouse Amazon Rain Forest Anti-CDA virus Anti-perspirant causes breast cancer AOL Badguy Expired credit card info FlashNews Forward e-mail or lose IM IM fee IM Trojan/virus Intel merger Riot V4.0 cookie Year 2000 update ASP virus Aspartame hoax Betty Martini Nancy Markle Sweet Poison ATM virus top	J j_neutron07 virus James Dobson ban religious broadcasts petition 2493 Jan1st20.exe Jason Stallings rockhard abs jdbe.exe see Sulfnbk.exe Jdbgmgr.exe see Sulfnbk.exe Joel Olsteen see James Dobson John Kennedy Jr Trojan John McCain illegitimate black baby Johns Hopkins see Dioxin Join the Crew jokerkid613/Ja$on MoNeY Joyce Meyer see James Dobson Just for you see Klingerman virus top	S Sandman SAPS see South African Police Service SARC Virus Test Sassy Scams (these are not hoaxes) 1-800-flowers AOL scam Best Buy scam Census scam Chase Bank Citibank Hitman extortion scam IRS e-audit scam IRS refund scam Job offer Jury duty scam Lottery scam any lottery offer MTN Nigeria National Do Not E-mail Registry Nigerian scam NLF ONLINE Lottery Noma Children Hospital Overpayment scam PayPal scam Phishing Regions Bank Visa/MasterCard scam School science project see Petitions Scoutshacker Shampoo causes cancer sodium laurel sulfate sodium laureth sulfate Shark's Love slideshow presentation Shuttle explosion pictures Simon Pugh Sinbad is dead Slavemaster Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) South African Police Service (SAPS) closing Child Protection Unit see Petitions South Park Newsletter Space shuttle explosion pictures Speeding ticket frenzy California New Jersey Tennessee Texas Sponges in the mail see Klingerman virus Spunkball Starbucks (see Oscar Meyer) anti-Israel anti-war anti-anyone or anything boycott Subpoena United States District Court Sulfnbk.exe same as jdbe.exe same as Jdbgmgr.exe Sundarbans see Ghost photo Supreme Court no crosses in govt. cemeteries Surcharge (see Tax) E-mail tax [Bill 602P] Internet access charge Long distance access charge Modem tax Susan McKinley breast worms wash bras before use SweetCaliGuy4evr Sweet Poison see Aspartame hoax Swiffer kills pets Sympathy hoaxes top
B Baby New Year virus Bad American George Carlin Ted Nugent Bad guy changing tire in the backseat selling perfume Bad Times Ball pit disgusting stuff in pit Kevin Archer needles snakes Ban religious broadcasting Dr. James Dobson Joel Olsteen Joyce Meyer Madalyn Murray O'Hair petition 2493 Bananas Costa Rican bananas flesh-eating bacteria Barack Obama (see FAQ) 50 lies cousin of Raila Odinga donated money to Odinga endorsed by the KKK hiding his birth certificate ignored troops in Afghanistan is a Muslim is not patriotic is soft on crime is soft on terrorism is the Antichrist not a U.S. Citizen upside down phone photo virus warning (real) Big Brother Biggest dog in the world photo Bill 602P Bill Gates $1000 give away 11 rules of life e-mail tracking Billy Graham walk to Bourbon Street Black Inheritance Tax Refund 40 Acres and a Mule Black Tax Inheritance Rebate Blacks lose right to vote in 2007 Blueballs Are Underrated Blue Mountain cards Blue package see Klingerman virus Blush Spider see Toilet spiders Bonsai kittens Bottled water in car plastic causes cancer see Dioxin Boycott cars Pope Benedict Boycott gasoline see FAQ Boycott letters see Chain letters Bras see Breast worms Brazilian plane crash photos Brazilian Rain Forest Breast cancer Anti-perspirant Breast worms Susan McKinley wash bras before use Brownie camera photos of Perl Harbor Brutus the dog Medal of Honor winner Bud Frogs screen saver Buddlylst Buddylist BUGGLST Bugslife screen saver bum_tnoo7@hotmail.com Bureau of Indian Affairs E-mail tracking top	K Kali Let's watch TV Keith Urban Kentucky Fried Chicken Ketchup see HIV Kevin Archer Keys hotel room KFC Kittens in a jar Bonsai kittens Klingerman virus Blue package Gift for you Human virus Just for you Sponges Koran see Quran Kurkure contains plastic top	T Talon F/A-37 fighter plane Tampax Pearl see Tampons Tampons Asbestos Dioxin see Tampax Target stores are unfair see FAQ Tax (see Surcharge) E-mail tax [Bill 602P] Internet access charge Long distance access charge Modem tax Telamonia dimidiata see Toilet spiders Teletubbies The New Ice Age Time Bomb Toilet spiders Blush spider Telamonia dimidiata Touched by an Angel Tsunami photos deep sea creatures taken by niece from Bangalore wave as tall as skyscraper Tuxissa virus top
C CA-125 ovarian cancer test California virus Cambodian Midget Fighting League Canola oil Car bumping see Gang initiations Card for You Cat How to give a cat a colonic Catfish photo of man-eating catfish Cell phones 5 things a cell phone can do call 112 in emergency causes gas station fires cook an egg cook popcorn display serial number hidden battery power telemarketers unlock a car door Cell phone virus ACE-? ICE Unavailable virus in phone causes death XALAN CellSaver Celecom screen saver Chain letters see Boycott letters see Urban legends Cheating at gas pump Cartersville, Georgia Chicken wings cause ovarian cysts contain steroids Child Protection Unit closing see Petitions see South African Police Service Christmas card for Recovering Soldier see FAQ CITGO changing name to Petro Express Cleanmgr.exe see Sulfnbk.exe Clinton Bill Clinton and Enron Clinton Body Count see Hillary Clinton Coca-Cola Coke and Mentos cause death Coke vs water harmful acidity Cockroach see Roaches Cold water after eating causes cancer causes heart attacks Columbia space shuttle cracks in the wing photo explosion photos setting sun photo Compaq Computer Corporation see Upgrade Internet Corpus Christi gay Jesus movie Costa Rican bananas flesh-eating bacteria Cough CPR see FAQ Crocodile photos see Hurricane Katrina Crying baby serial killer top	L LEARN TO LOVE Leptospirosis Hantavirus on soda cans rat urine virus Let's watch TV Kali Life is Beautiful Lipstick causes cancer test for lead Lotteries see Scams Loundhouse Lump of Coal virus top	U Ukraine Despite virus Una Tarjeta Virtual Unable to Deliver Returned Unavailable mobile phone virus Underwear see Breast worms University of Kentucky removed Holocaust curriculum Upgrade Internet UPS uniforms Urban legends top
D Dana Dear Friends Death69 Deeyenda Dennis Miller Trying to Help Wichita Falls paper Denzel Washington Fisher House Today Show Deodorant see Anti-perspirant Desi1love Despite virus Ukraine Dihydrogen Monoxide DHMO Dioxin Johns Hopkins Walter Reed water bottle in heated car Disney giveaway DiveIntoMyHaneZ Dobson see James Dobson top	M MacDonald's screensaver virus also see McDonald's Madalyn Murray O'Hair Ban religious programming FCC petition 2493 Touched by an Angel MADD petition Mail Server Report virus warning see FAQ Make money fast Mars close to Earth on August 27 two moons on August 27 Matrix virus Maya Angelou poems Clothes I Am a Christian McCain see John McCain McDonald's imports beef from South America Texas Cattle Feeders Assc. letter Mel Gibson man without a face Mentos and Coca-Cola causes death if consumed together Merry Christmas virus aka Invitation virus aka Olympic Torch virus Michelle Obama "whitey" video won't release college thesis Microsoft Bill Gates $1000 give away E-mail tracking rebates Homepage virus Walt Disney chain letter Microwaved water harmful to plants Millennium Time Bomb Miller's free beer Missing day NASA discovers missing day Mobile phone virus ACE-? Unavailable Moment of Silence Mondex mark of the beast Money transfer see Nigerian Scam Monkeyman935 MP# virus Mule vs mountain lion MusicPanel MS-13 gang see Gang initiations MSN mail see Hotmail top	V Very Cool Virtual Card for You top
E Eagles can rejuvenate themselves new feathers, talons and beaks EBOLA [computer] virus E-Flu E-mail petitions see Petitions E-mail tax Bill 602P E-mail tracking E-mail or get a virus El Poco Flashmaster G Elf Bowling Enron Bill Clinton Envelopes roach eggs in glue Ericsson free computer or phone Ether disguised as perfume Evil the Cat extra_titanian E-ZPass to catch speeders top	N Nancy Pelosi 100% tax on windfall profits NASA discovers missing day Naughty robot NastyFriend99 Necrotizing fasciitis Costa Rican bananas Needles [urban legend] In ball pit [Kevin Archer] In coin return slots On gas pump handles On theater seats Neiman Marcus cookies New Family Pictures New Ice Age New Pictures of Family Niagra Falls frozen in 1911 Nigerian Scam NLF ONLINE Lottery see Scams Nokia free computer or phone screensaver virus Noma see Scams Norman virus Norton anti-virus Postcard virus v5 Nostradamus City of God World Trade Center NPR & PBS funding see Petitions top	W WW II Memorial missing words Wal-Mart fire burned 6-year-old girl AOL e-mail tracking Walter Reed Medical Center see Dioxin Wash bras before use breast worms Susan McKinley Water bottle in car plastic causes cancer see Dioxin Win a holiday Windows will Fail on Jan 1 Wobbler virus Women as victims Wooden Horse Work virus World Domination World Trade Center Halloween at the mall Jews missing work Nostradamus Sponges of death Stolen rental trucks Tourist photo UN Peace Initiative Weird Windows fonts WTC Survivor virus World's biggest dog photo Wrath of the Eagle Quran (9:11) top
F FAQ F/A-37 Talon Family Pictures FatCat virus Febreze kills pets Flashing headlights see Gang initiations Flashmaster G El Poco Flesh-eating bacteria Costa Rican bananas Flower for You Flu shot shortage John Edwards Foot N Mouth Free M&Ms Free Money Free_mumia911 Free Pizza Frogapult Frogs and Fishes Funprog top	O Obama see Barack Obama see Michelle Obama Oliver North testimony Al Gore Osama bin Laden Olympic Torch virus aka Invitation virus aka Merry Christmas virus ooosparklesooo88 Open: very cool! A.I.D.S. virus Oscar Meyer (see Starbucks) boycott doesn't support the war top	X XALAN cell phone virus combined with #90 hoax top
G Gang initiations ankle slashing car bumping headlight flashing kidnap a woman kill a woman kill a woman & child LSD & strychnine MS-13 initiation GAP E-mail Tracking Gas pump cheating Cartersville, Georgia Gas pump scam press "clear" after fueling Gasoline boycott see FAQ Gay Jesus movie Corpus Christi Genetic organisms Chicken Kentucky Fried Chicken KFC George Bush Reagan Diaries George Carlin A Bad American Hurricane Rules Paradox of Our Time Get More Money Ghost photo India Malayan cemetery Sundarbans Gift certificates see Giveaway hoaxes Gift for you see Klingerman virus Girl Thing Giveaway hoaxes Glade gel candles PlugIns Good Times Grammar Bug Guts to Say Jesus top	P Pandemic Patricia Harrington home invasion PBR virus How to deep fry a cat PBS & NPR funding see Petitions Pelosi 100% tax on windfall profits Penny Brown Penpal greetings Pepsi Kanye West under God Perfume Received in the mail Used in robberies (ether) Perl Harbor photos taken with Brownie camera Perrin.exe Petitions Petro Express changed name from CITGO Phantom Menace Phenylpropanolamine see FAQ Photos of space shuttle exploding Plastic water bottle in car causes breast cancer see Dioxin PlugIns Glade Pluperfect Pool Party Poor Dog Pope Benedict boycott cars Postcard virus see FAQ Progesterex Puppies Golden Retriever Purell burns hands top	Y Y2K Game Y2K7 Yahoo! mail Yellow Telletubby Your Friend D@fit YUKON3U.mp top
H Hackers List Hacky Birthday virus Hairy Palms virus Hallmark postcard virus see Postcard virus Halloween virus Hands of God photo Hurricane Charley Hantavirus Leptospirosis on soda cans rat urine virus Having a Bad Day at Work Shark attacks helicopter Help 48 hours Help Poor Dog Hercules biggest dog photo Hidden needles see Needles Hillary Clinton Black Panthers Clinton Body Count Gold Star Mothers Horse-thief ancestor Secret Service fees virus warning (real) Hitler Hoax HIV hidden needles in ketchup Holocaust University of Kentucky Home invasion Patricia Harrington Hot water after eating helps prevent cancer helps prevent heart attacks Hotel room keys Hotmail Fees Forward an e-mail Too many users How to deep fry a cat PBR How to give a cat a colonic Cat Hurricane Charley hands of God photo Hurricane Isabel oil tanker photos Hurricane Katrina crocodile photos escaped prisoners Hurricane photo Hypodermic needles see Needles top	Q Quran (9:11) Wrath of the Eagle top	Z Zlatko Zulican fish virus ZZ331 virus top
I ICE cell phone virus Identity theft see Scams IDNYSTE$$.FYI I'm your shadow In God We Trust missing from $1 coin INFILTER Initiation see Gang initiations Intel-AOL merger International Driver's License Internet access charge Internet cleanup day Internet Flower for You Intifadah.cjb.net Invitation virus aka Merry Christmas virus aka Olympic Torch virus Irina It takes guts to say Jesus top	R Rain forest - Brazil Rat urine virus Hantavirus Leptospirosis on soda cans Reagan Diaries ne'er-do-well George Real ID Act chip implants federal ID number Katrina related legislation loss of all benefits Red Alert Microsoft homepage virus Religious Broadcasting Dr. James Dobson Joel Olsteen Joyce Meyer Madalyn Murray O'Hair petition 2493 Returned Unable to Deliver Roaches In glue (envelopes) In tacos Robin Williams peace plan Rockhard abs Jason Stallings Roosevelt WW II Memorial omission top	# #90 or 90# $800 from Microsoft 2493 (FCC petition) ban religious broadcasts Dr. James Dobson Joel Olsteen Joyce Meyer 2-way mirror detecting 3b Trojan 48 hours Help 5 things a cell phone can do 602P [e-mail tax] top

If you did not find what you were looking for on the BIG LIST, please check the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) to see if your question was answered there. If you are a first time visitor to Hoax Busters, or if you need help navigating the BIG LIST, please read the HELP file. If you have a question about something that is not on the BIG LIST or in the FAQ, you can contact us HERE (we rarely get questions anymore that are not answered somewhere on the BIG LIST or the FAQ). If you have contacted us and not yet received an answer, there may have been a problem with your e-mail address. Please try again.

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