Korova Multimedia § The Hoax du Jour index

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About the "Hoax du Jour"

The "Hoax du Jour" is a recurring column providing updated information and commentary on the Internet community. It is a feature of Korova Multimedia's "e-v-mail" page.

What is a "hoax du jour?" With the advent of widespread use of the Internet as a medium for sharing information, the phenomenon of sharing misinformation has exploded. Conventional urban folklore and propaganda have blossomed on the Internet. Intentionally misleading information is broadcast on a professional and personal level.

On the Web, misinformation wants to be free. It also likes to be free of authenticity and corroboration, when such grounding deflates the credibility of the content.

The result? Naive users of the Internet are subjected to a daily barrage of data that are erroneous, slanderous, and sometimes even destructive. This page is dedicated to discussing intentional misinformation, or 'Net hoaxes.

Disclaimer The opinions expressed here are entirely my own, and do not reflect policy or intentions of any persons, groups or companies referred to or linked from this site. I, my guest writers, or Korova Multimedia are not responsible for content or sites linked to from the "Hoax du Jour" column.

Kudos and links for
the "Hoax du Jour"

About.com
("Best of the Net")

Computer Virus Myths
(recommendation)

The Curse of a Thousand Chain Letters
(recommendation)

Lycos Guide: Urban Legends
(Top Rated Site)

The Motley Fool
("striking a blow for rationality")

ProjectCool
(March, 2001)

Suite101.com
("three stars")

Also on Korova.com

Clean the hoax-y taste from your mouth with Nonstop Anonymous Monotonous Onomatopoeia, just for fun.

Get a fresh perspective with Korova Truth.

Think outside, way outside, of the box at ChromeJob.com.

Other anti-hoax resources

Korova Multimedia: "e-v-mail"

Rob Rosenberger:
Computer Virus Myths

DoE CIAC - Hoaxbusters

Barbara Mikkelson:
Urban Legends Reference Pages

David Emery:
About.com guide to Urban Legends & Folklore

HoaxKill Service

Urban legend and computer security books

by Jan Harold Brunvand

The Baby Train
The Choking Doberman
Curses! Broiled Again!
The Mexican Pet
The Truth Never Stands In The Way Of A Good Story

also:
Computer Security Basics (O'Reilly)

... or search Amazon.com for more books about hoaxes and urban legends...

Sponsor links:

Index of Hoax du Jour topics

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

"4-1-9" money scams: (see: Nigerian "4-1-9" money scam)
5¢ e-mail surcharge: (see: U.S. Postal Service, 5� e-mail surcharge )
809 (area code) phone scam: Call Now!
90# phone scam alert: The "90# Phone Scam" Alert
Abductions, of children: Children's Crusade
Abductions, of women: Call Now!
Abercrombie & Fitch, giveaway: (see: E-mail tracking hoaxes)
Advance Fee Fraud: (see: Nigerian "4-1-9" money scam)
Afghanistan, treatment of women: Calls to Overreaction
AIDS needles: The Fear of AIDS (Needles)
"All your base are belong to us": Zero Wing information
American Cancer Society, shampoo: (see: Sodium lauryl sulfate)
Ammonium Laureth Sulfate: (see: Sodium lauryl sulfate)
Anti-perspirant, cancer: (see: Cancer, Breast)
AOL 4.0 cookie: AOL Cookie
AOL hacker riot: The AOL Hacker Riot II
AOL IM charges: Death Threats and Disney Trips
AOL, Intel merger (free giveaway): You're Never Gonna Believe This...
Asbestos, in tampons: (see: Toxic Tampons)
Aspartame, dangers of: Calls to Overreaction
"aspartate dehydrogenase": (see: DMSO)
ATM, poisoned envelopes: You're Never Gonna Believe This...
ATM, Lebanese loop (card theft): A More Wretched Hive of Scum & Villainy
AT&T technician: (see: 90# Phone Scam alert)
Bananas, with necrotizing fasciitis: Lingering Misinformation
Banks, privacy policies: (see: FDIC, "Know Your Customer")
Beerman, Jermaine (sick child): Children's Crusade
Bill Gates giveaway: (see: E-mail tracking hoaxes)
Bleaching, of tampons: (see: Toxic Tampons)
Bonsai kittens: Lingering Misinformation
Breast cancer: (see: Cancer, Breast)
Breast Cancer Site, The (BreastCancerSite.com): (see: Hunger Site, The)
Bruce, Amy (sick child): Children's Crusade
Bucklew, David (sick child): Children's Crusade
Bundy, Amanda: Children's Crusade
"Business Outcasts, The": (see: Datek complaint chain letter)
California (Wobbler) virus: You're Never Gonna Believe This...
Canola oil: Lingering Misinformation
Cancer, Breast: You're Never Gonna Believe This...
Cancer, from shampoo: (see: Sodium lauryl sulfate)
Cancer, from tampon use: (see: Toxic Tampons)
Carmex lip balm, contains ground glass: Toxic Tampons
Cats, in a jar: (see: Bonsai kittens)
Census, tell them you're a Jedi: (see: Jedi (census))
Centers for Disease Control (CDC): (see: Toxic Tampons)
CERT, Melissa: (see: Melissa word macro virus)
CERT, Remote Explorer: (see: Remote Explorer)
Chain e-mail, for sick children: Children's Crusade
Church of Satan, Procter & Gamble: (see: Procter & Gamble, Trademark)
CIAC, chain letters: e-v-mail; Phone Slamming; Calls to Overreaction
CIAC, hoaxes: E-j-mail Extortion; The "90# Phone Scam" Alert; The AOL Hacker Riot II; Death Threats and Disney Trips
CIAC, Melissa: (see: Melissa word macro virus)
Clinton, Hilary (602P e-mail tax bill): You're Never Gonna Believe This...
CNN, FDIC Know Your Customer proposal: (see: FDIC, "Know Your Customer")
CNN, Internet charges: (see: Internet tax)
CNN, Melissa: (see: Melissa word macro virus)
Coca-Cola, giveaway: (see: E-mail tracking hoaxes)
"Code Adam" (child abduction): (see: Abductions, of children)
Cohen, Jada (sick child): Children's Crusade
Columbia House, giveaway: (see: E-mail tracking hoaxes)
Connor, Rick (sick child): Children's Crusade
CPR, coughing: You're Never Gonna Believe This...
Cracker Barrel gift certificate: (see: E-mail tracking hoaxes)
"Cramming," modem dialing to costly foreign area codes: Call Now!
Credit bureau opt-out: Lingering Misinformation
"cyberban legend": e-v-mail
Datek complaint chain letter: Lingering Misinformation
Degree, Asha (missing child): Children's Crusade
Dioxin, in tampons: (see: Toxic Tampons)
Disney trip: (see: E-mail tracking hoaxes)
DMSO: You're Never Gonna Believe This...
E-j-mail: "e-j-mail: The Dirge of the Internet"; E-j-mail Extortion
E-mail, dangers of attachments (virii, Trojans, et al): A More Wretched Hive of Scum & Villainy
E-mail surcharge, by U.S. Postal Service: (see: U.S. Postal Service, 5� e-mail surcharge )
E-mail tracking hoaxes: Death Threats and Disney Trips; You're Never Gonna Believe This...; Children's Crusade
Equal: (see: Aspartame, dangers of)
eToys.com (eToys versus etoy): The Grinch Is Real.
False Authority Syndrome, The: e-v-mail; Toxic Tampons; Internet Access Charges & Taxation; Calls to Overreaction
FCC Modem Tax: (see: Internet tax)
FCC, Internet charges: (see: Internet tax)
FCC, No Urban dictates: (see: No Urban dictates)
FCC, phone slamming: (see: Phone slamming)
FDA, regarding Tampons: (see: Toxic Tampons)
FDIC, "Know Your Customer": Calls to Overreaction
Febreze: You're Never Gonna Believe This...
Finjan Software (Malicious Code Alert): (see: Viral marketing)
Flyte, Timothy (sick child): Children's Crusade
Fonda, Jane ("Hanoi Jane"): Lingering Misinformation
Forbes magazine, Tampon Terrorism: (see: Toxic Tampons)
"forwardables": e-v-mail
FTC, 767 phone scam: (see: International phone scams)
FTC, e-j-mail ("spam," UCE): E-j-mail Extortion
Furniture cleaner, harm to pets: (see: Febreze)
Gap, giveaway: (see: E-mail tracking hoaxes)
Giveaways, based on forwarding e-mail: (see: E-mail tracking hoaxes)
GoHip.com: (see: Viral marketing)
GreaterGood.com: (see: Hunger Site, The)
Gullibility Virus, The: You're Never Gonna Believe This...
"Hanoi Jane": (see: Fonda, Jane)
Harvesting, kidneys: (see: Kidney theft)
Heart attack, avoiding: (see: CPR, coughing)
Hembree, Braedon (sick child): Children's Crusade
HIV, needles: (see: AIDS needles)
Hoemspine, Faith (sick child): Children's Crusade
Honda, giveaway: (see: E-mail tracking hoaxes)
Hunger Site, The: Lingering Misinformation
IBM, giveaway: (see: E-mail tracking hoaxes)
ICQ alerts: Death Threats and Disney Trips
ICQ, getting kicked off: (see: Instant Messages, going away)
IEG: (see: OurFirstTime.com)
Inside Edition, abduction: (see: Abductions, of women)
Instant Messages, going away: Death Threats and Disney Trips; Lingering Misinformation
Intel, AOL merger (free giveaway): You're Never Gonna Believe This...
International phone scams: Call Now!
Internet ScamBusters, 809 phone scam: (see: International phone scams)
Internet ScamBusters, e-mail safety tips: A More Wretched Hive of Scum & Villainy
Internet tax (access charges): Internet Access Charges & Taxation
ISP dial-up charges: (see: Internet tax)
iWon.com $100 giveaway: (see: E-mail tracking hoaxes)
J. Crew, giveaway: (see: E-mail tracking hoaxes)
Jackson, LaNisha (sick child): Children's Crusade
Jane Fonda: (see: Fonda, Jane)
Jedi (census): Lingering Misinformation
Jones, Kelsey Brooke (missing child): Children's Crusade; Lingering Misinformation
JPEG virus: E-j-mail Extortion
Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC): Lingering Misinformation
Kidney Theft: You're Never Gonna Believe This...
Kittens in a jar: (see: Bonsai Kittens)
Klingerman virus: Lingering Misinformation
Know your customer: (see: FDIC, "Know Your Customer")
Koopmans, Jessica (missing child): Lingering Misinformation; Children's Crusade
KRON-TV, Remote Explorer: (see: Remote Explorer)
"l-aspartate dehydrogenase": (see: DMSO)
Lane, Paige (sick child): Children's Crusade
Lawitts, David (sick child): Children's Crusade
Lebanese loop, ATM card theft: (see: ATM, Lebanese loop (card theft))
Long-distance phone service, slamming: (see: Phone slamming)
LSD, poison on pay phones: (see: AIDS needles)
M&Ms, free giveaway: (see: E-mail tracking hoaxes)
Mall, abductions: (see: Abductions, of women)
Markle, Nancy (World Environmental Conference): (see: Aspartame, dangers of)
Martin, Tamara (sick child): Children's Crusade
McAfee Associates: (see: Network Associates)
MCI WorldCom, Remote Explorer: (see: Remote Explorer)
McGee, Ryan (sick child): Children's Crusade
McVeigh, Timothy (book, execution video): A More Wretched Hive of Scum & Villainy
Melissa word macro virus: The Word Macro Spam 'Bot
Microsoft, Melissa: (see: Melissa word macro virus)
Miller beer giveaway: (see: E-mail tracking hoaxes)
Minority radio blacklisting: (see: No Urban dictates)
Modem hijacking, dialing international numbers: (see: Cramming," modem dialing to costly foreign area codes)
Moldava porn "download" scam: (see: International phone scams)
MTX virus worm info: A More Wretched Hive of Scum & Villainy
Mydek, Jessica: Death Threats and Disney Trips; Children's Crusade
NANPA, international area codes: (see: International phone scams)
NEA petition: (see: PBS petition)
Necrotizing fasciitis, in bananas: (see: Bananas, with necrotizing fasciitis)
Network Associates, Remote Explorer: (see: Remote Explorer)
Network Associates, Melissa word macro virus: (see: Melissa word macro virus)
New Ice Age virus: Lingering Misinformation
Nigerian "4-1-9" money scam: A More Wretched Hive of Scum & Villainy
Nike, free shoes: (see: E-mail tracking hoaxes)
NIPC (National Infrastructure Protection Center): The Word Macro Spam 'Bot; Lingering Misinformation; A More Wretched Hive of Scum & Villainy
No Urban dictates: Calls to Overreaction
Novenche, Michael (sick child): Children's Crusade
NPR petition (Nina Totenberg): (see: PBS petition)
NUD: (see: No Urban dictates)
Nutrasweet: (see: Aspartame, dangers of)
NY Daily News, No Urban dictates: (see: No Urban dictates)
NY Daily News, tampon scare: (see: Toxic Tampons)
Old Navy, giveaway: (see: E-mail tracking hoaxes)
Opt-out, credit bureau: (see: Credit bureau opt out)
Organ theft, kidneys: (see: Kidney Theft)
OurFirstTime.com: Death Threats and Disney Trips
Outback Steakhouse, giveaway: (see: E-mail tracking hoaxes)
Outlook, Melissa: (see: Melissa word macro virus)
Paget's Disease of the nipple: Lingering Misinformation
Parkin, Anthony (dying child): Children's Crusade
Parrish, Delaney: Children's Crusade
Pay phones, AIDS/LSD: (see: AIDS needles)
PBS petition: Lingering Misinformation
Petitions, e-mail (in general): Calls to Overreaction
Pets, harmed by fabric cleaner: (see: Febreze)
Phenylpropanolamine (PPA) recall: (see: FDA's Phenylpropanolamine Information Page)
Phone slamming: Phone Slamming; Internet Access Charges & Taxation
Pingel, Lauren Renee (sick child): Children's Crusade
Poison, LSD/Ricin/AIDS: (see: AIDS needles)
Postal Service, e-mail surcharge: (see: U.S. Postal Service, 5� e-mail surcharge )
Prayer requests, sick children: Children's Crusade
Procter & Gamble, trademark: You're Never Gonna Believe This...
Radio, advertising blacklists: (see: No Urban dictates)
Rat urine, on sodas: You're Never Gonna Believe This...
Rayon, in tampons: (see: Toxic Tampons)
Remote Explorer: Remote Explorer of My Eye
Satanism, CEO of Procter & Gamble: (see: Procter & Gamble, Trademark)
Schmidt, Krystava Patients (missing child): Children's Crusade
Schnell, Congressman: (see: U.S. Postal Service, 5¢ e-mail surcharge)
Sesame Street, petition: (see: PBS petition)
Shampoo: Sodium lauryl sulfate
Shergold, Craig (cards requested): Children's Crusade
Shopping Carts, poisoning: (see: DMSO)
Shopping center (mall), abductions: (see: Abductions, of women)
Sick child: Children's Crusade
"Slamming", unintended long-distance carrier changes: (see: Phone slamming)
Slavemaster (online stalker): A More Wretched Hive of Scum & Villainy
Slow Dance (sick child, prayer request): Children's Crusade
Social Security Administration (numbers): You're Never Gonna Believe This...
Soda cans, with rat urine: (see: Rat urine, on sodas)
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: You're Never Gonna Believe This...
Solidaridad con Brian: Children's Crusade
Spam: (see: E-j-mail)
Spam, automatic: (see: Melissa word macro virus); (see: Viral marketing)
"Spunkballing": Lingering Misinformation
Steinmetz, Aaron Russell (missing child): Children's Crusade
SULFNBK.EXE, virus hoax: Lingering Misinformation
Supermarkets, poison on shopping carts: (see: DMSO)
Tampons, cancer-causing: (see: Toxic Tampons)
Thompson, Dean (sick child): Children's Crusade
Tina Strongman: (see: AIDS Needles)
Totenberg, Nina (NPR petition): (see: PBS petition)
Toxic Tampons: Toxic Tampons
Trademark infringement: (see: eToys.com)
Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), from tampons: (see: Toxic Tampons)
Unsolicited, commercial e-mail (UCE): (see: E-j-mail)
Urine, rat: (see: Rat urine, on sodas)
U.S. Postal Service, 5¢ e-mail surcharge: You're Never Gonna Believe This...
Viral Marketing: The Word Macro Spam 'Bot (update); Viral marketing is Now.
Washingtonian, The: (see: U.S. Postal Service, 5¢ e-mail surcharge)
Wobbler virus: (see: California (Wobbler) virus)
Women in Afghanistan: (see: Afghanistan, treatment of women)
Word macro: (see: Melissa word macro virus)
Zinc chloride: (see: Febreze)