Articles recently published or updated on hoax-slayer.com. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/latest-information.html Copyright 2010 Brett M.Christensen en hoax-slayer@hoax-slayer.com(Brett Christensen) Message warns that responding to a pop-up prompt by pressing the F1 key when visiting an infected website could download and install a virus on your computer. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/f1-virus-warning.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/f1-virus-warning.shtml Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:31:00 GMT Email offers the recipient a part time job cleaning an apartment for a quite generous fee. The cleaner is advised to deduct this fee from a cheque made out for a considerably larger amount and then wire the remainder to the landlord via a money transfer service. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/apartment-cleaner-overpayment-scam.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/apartment-cleaner-overpayment-scam.shtml Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:34:00 GMT Email claims that money transfer service Western Union has noticed unauthorized transactions on the recipient's credit card and instructs him or her to fill in an attached form in order to verify identity and payment details. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/western-union-phishing-scam.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/western-union-phishing-scam.shtml Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:33:00 GMT Email forward claims that a series of attached images show an innovative and luxurious new yacht of enormous proportions dubbed the WHY 58x38. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/why-yacht.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/why-yacht.shtml Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:27:00 GMT Email asks the recipient to work as a representative for a Haiti Earthquake disaster aid organization by collecting and processing donated funds. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/haiti-earthquake-laundering-scam.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/haiti-earthquake-laundering-scam.shtml Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:27:00 GMT Message circulating on Facebook warns users not to open a request to checkout a YouTube video because it contains a "trojan worm" that can shut down the infected computer and steal personal information. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/youtube-facebook-trojan-warning.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/youtube-facebook-trojan-warning.shtml Sun, 28 Feb 2010 01:40:00 GMT Message claims that, every time a text message is sent on, AT&T or Verizon will donate money to help pay for surgery on a 14 year old boy who was shot six times by his stepfather while attempting to protect his young sister. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/boy-shot-stepfather-text-message-hoax.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/boy-shot-stepfather-text-message-hoax.shtml Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:01:00 GMT Email that call for a stop to a supposed "attack against nature" on the beaches of Costa Rica claims that a series of attached photographs depict crowds of people digging up and stealing turtle eggs that they will later sell. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/costa-rica-turtle-eggs.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/costa-rica-turtle-eggs.shtml Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:21:00 GMT Email claims that the recipient can be awarded the prize of a new Mercedes-Benz GL-Class GL550 along with three hundred thousand euros simply by replying with the answers to a very short and simply quiz . http://www.hoax-slayer.com/mercedes-benz-advance-fee-scam.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/mercedes-benz-advance-fee-scam.shtml Tue, 23 Feb 2010 03:24:00 GMT Messages claims that Facebook is becoming overpopulated and that members who do not send the information to others within two weeks will have their accounts deleted. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/facebook-overpopulated-hoax.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/facebook-overpopulated-hoax.shtml Mon, 22 Feb 2010 11:43:00 GMT Messages circulating via Twitter, Facebook and email claim that iconic Canadian singer- songwriter Gordon Lightfoot is dead. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/gordon-lightfoot-alive.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/gordon-lightfoot-alive.shtml Mon, 22 Feb 2010 03:37:00 GMT http://www.hoax-slayer.com/facebook-gold-account-hoax.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/facebook-gold-account-hoax.shtml Mon, 22 Feb 2010 01:05:00 GMT Email purporting to be from India's Department of Revenue claims that the recipient can apply for a tax refund of 820.50 Rupees by submitting an attached refund form. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/indian-tax-refund-scam.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/indian-tax-refund-scam.shtml Fri, 19 Feb 2010 02:13:00 GMT Email, purporting to be from the Bank of America, claims that, due to a planned software upgrade, customers must confirm their banking details online by following a link in the message. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/bank-of-america-phishing-scam.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/bank-of-america-phishing-scam.shtml Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:15:00 GMT Email claims that staff at Maroochydore High School in Queensland, Australia have implemented a sarcastic automated answering service that bluntly points out that teachers are not responsible for the poor behaviour and lack of commitment of students and their parents. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/maroochydore-school-answering-machine-hoax.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/maroochydore-school-answering-machine-hoax.shtml Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:41:00 GMT Email, purporting to be from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) claims that the recipient may be eligible for a 19% refund on 2009 taxes if he or she registers online for the Cut Off Taxes Program. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/ato-cut-off-taxes-scam.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/ato-cut-off-taxes-scam.shtml Tue, 09 Feb 2010 04:56:00 GMT Email purporting to be from the National Health Anti-Fraud Association (NHCAA) claims that a complaint has been made against the recipient and urges him or her to review the complaint details via an attached document. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/NHCAA-complaint-scam-email.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/NHCAA-complaint-scam-email.shtml Tue, 09 Feb 2010 02:05:00 GMT Email with an old photograph of a leader addressing a crowd claims that a speech on the assimilation of immigrants included in the message was made by Australia's first Prime Minister Sir Edmund Barton in 1907. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/edmund-barton-immigration-quote.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/edmund-barton-immigration-quote.shtml Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:26:00 GMT Messages circulating on Facebook claim that by entering 'automation labs' in the "Block People" search function of Facebook's privacy settings will reveal a list of people who have access to your Facebook account and should be blocked individually so that they cannot spy on you. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/automation-labs-facebook-warning.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/automation-labs-facebook-warning.shtml Thu, 04 Feb 2010 04:00:00 GMT Message claims that emails featuring photographs of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown smiling contain a dangerous computer virus that will crash your computer and damage it beyond repair. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/gordon-brown-smiling-virus-hoax.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/gordon-brown-smiling-virus-hoax.shtml Wed, 03 Feb 2010 03:01:00 GMT Email claims that the sender has been paid to kill you but he will cancel the contract if you pay him a large sum of money. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/hitman-scam.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/hitman-scam.shtml Sun, 31 Jan 2010 01:59:00 GMT Email, purportedly from online classifieds website Craigslist, claims that the recipient's Craigslist account has been blocked and he or she must follow a link in the message to confirm account details. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/craigslist-account-phishing-scam.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/craigslist-account-phishing-scam.shtml Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:48:00 GMT Email claims that attached photographs show "Giant George" a massive 7ft-long (2.13 meters) blue great dane that lives in Tuscon, Arizona. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/giant-george-great-dane.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/giant-george-great-dane.shtml Fri, 29 Jan 2010 01:23:00 GMT Message circulating on Facebook warns that users should delete a Facebook application labelled "Unnamed app" because it is an "internal spybot" that can make Facebook runs more slowly than usual. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/unnamed-app-facebook-warning.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/unnamed-app-facebook-warning.shtml Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:59:00 GMT Rumours circulating via social networking websites and email claim that Facebook will soon begin charging members a monthly fee for use of its services. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/facebook-charging-rumours.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/facebook-charging-rumours.shtml Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:16:00 GMT Email claims that attached photographs depict a golfer whose arm was bitten off by an alligator when he attempted to retrieve his ball from an on course pond. (Warning: Graphic images) http://www.hoax-slayer.com/alligator-takes-golfer-arm.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/alligator-takes-golfer-arm.shtml Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:35:00 GMT Email, purporting to be from the Australian Taxation Office, claims that the recipient can receive a large tax refund by clicking a link in the message and filling out a web based form. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/australian-tax-refund-scam.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/australian-tax-refund-scam.shtml Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:04:00 GMT Message claims that you can help pay medical costs for baby Manuela, a child with a rare disease who needs an operation, just by forwarding the email to at least three people. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/manuela-charity-hoax.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/manuela-charity-hoax.shtml Tue, 19 Jan 2010 01:14:00 GMT Message warns that bogus Facebook notifications claiming that you have been reported by a friend for being offensive or for terms of service violations link to a computer virus. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/facebook-friend-reported-you-warning.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/facebook-friend-reported-you-warning.shtml Sat, 16 Jan 2010 01:09:00 GMT Email claims that a series of attached photographs show a radical new airless car tyre design being developed by Michelin that will soon be on the market. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/see-through-tyres.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/see-through-tyres.shtml Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:19:00 GMT Messages claim that 14 year old Ashley Lewis is missing from Kannapolis, in the American state of North Carolina. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/ashley-lewis-missing.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/ashley-lewis-missing.shtml Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:45:00 GMT Message warning that a Facebook group that protests against a supposed charge of $14.99 per month for Facebook services has links that point to a malicious website. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/facebook-charging-hoax.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/facebook-charging-hoax.shtml Fri, 01 Jan 2010 01:39:00 GMT Message claims that a seriously ill baby girl will receive a donation from the phone company to help pay for a heart transplant every time the message is forwarded. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/baby-girl-heart-transplant-hoax.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/baby-girl-heart-transplant-hoax.shtml Tue, 29 Dec 2009 02:58:00 GMT Email claims that the recipient has won the UK National Welfare Christmas Lottery and should contact a specified agent in order to claim a large cash prize. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/uk-national-welfare-lottery-scam.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/uk-national-welfare-lottery-scam.shtml Sun, 27 Dec 2009 05:10:00 GMT Message warns that an email attachment named "Black in the White House" contains a damaging computer virus that can destroy the hard drive of the infected computer. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/black-in-white-house-virus-hoax.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/black-in-white-house-virus-hoax.shtml Mon, 21 Dec 2009 10:48:00 GMT Email claims that a series of attached images depict new US dollar notes, including a $200 bill, that are to be released by the US government in 2010. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/new-us-dollar-designs.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/new-us-dollar-designs.shtml Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:47:00 GMT Message warns recipients not to accept a friend request from Christopher Davies or Jessica Davies because they are hackers who can gain access to your computer and the computers of your friends as well. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/christopher-davies-hacker-hoax.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/christopher-davies-hacker-hoax.shtml Mon, 07 Dec 2009 10:35:00 GMT Protest message, supposedly supported by photographs of child brides, claims that 450 girls under ten were forced to marry adult men in a mass Muslim marriage recently held in Gaza. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/mass-muslim-marriage.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/mass-muslim-marriage.shtml Sat, 05 Dec 2009 05:46:00 GMT Circulating video supposedly shows a bungee jumper having his head bitten off by a crocodile as he reaches the water. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/bungee-jumper-crocodile.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/bungee-jumper-crocodile.shtml Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:43:00 GMT Email purporting to be from Hotmail Customer Care claims that the recipient must confirm his or her Hotmail account by replying with account login details within 48 hours or risk having the account closed down. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/windows-live-hotmail-phishing-scam.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/windows-live-hotmail-phishing-scam.shtml Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:23:00 GMT Message warns drivers that roadside criminals are throwing eggs at the windshields of passing cars in the hope that the drivers will be forced to pull over due to obscured vision and therefore become vulnerable to robbery. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/egg-windshield-robbery.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/egg-windshield-robbery.shtml Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:28:00 GMT Email claims that the user's email account has exceeded its storage limit and instructs him or her to reply with the account username and password in order to increase the mailbox size and restore full functionality. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/email-exceeded-storage-limit-scam.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/email-exceeded-storage-limit-scam.shtml Sun, 29 Nov 2009 03:54:00 GMT Message claims that attached images show an amazing new mobile computing device developed by Google that combines a touch screen, a camera, a scanner, WiFi, and Google Maps to give unprecedented access to information while on the move. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/google-amazing-device.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/google-amazing-device.shtml Sat, 28 Nov 2009 03:42:00 GMT Circulating warnings suggest that a 2009 Westfield Shopping Australia Christmas gift card competition currently running on Facebook is a scam and contains trojans or viruses. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/westfield-giftcard-comp-facebook.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/westfield-giftcard-comp-facebook.shtml Fri, 27 Nov 2009 04:29:00 GMT Email forward asks recipients to pray for 8 year old South African boy, Christopher Beets, who was seriously ill with cancer. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/christopher-beets-prayer-request.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/christopher-beets-prayer-request.shtml Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:48:00 GMT Email purporting to be from Social Security Administration claims that the recipient's Social Security statement may contain errors and urges him or her to click a link to review the statement. http://www.hoax-slayer.com/social-security-errors-phishing-scam.shtml http://www.hoax-slayer.com/social-security-errors-phishing-scam.shtml Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:21:00 GMT