Am I just gun-shy after the "Balloon Boy" hoax or are there legitimate reasons to question whether Jessica Watson is really sailing around the world? What evidence can you find to support the theory that this is another hoax and what evidence can you find that refutes that theory? [more inside]
posted by kellygreen on Oct 27, 2009 - 20 answers

PhotoshopFilter: I'm looking for two things - recent photoshopped hoax pictures sent in by someone in the audience that the mainstream media has mistakenly printed or put on TV. Also any tips on detecting photoshopped photos would be appreciated. Even better if someone on the 'net outed them before MSM caught it. [more inside]
posted by mad_little_monkey on Aug 11, 2009 - 16 answers

How do you deal with friends or family sending you (and everyone else in their address book) fake virus warnings and other hoaxes? [more inside]
posted by Skyanth on Jun 19, 2008 - 31 answers

I want to share the truth of the Moon Landing with my friends... But the site is down. [more inside]
posted by johnstein on Jan 21, 2008 - 7 answers

Has anyone used All World Private Funding to get a loan? And if so, what was your experience?
posted by waytogo! on Oct 27, 2007 - 2 answers

Does anyone remember an absurdly over hyped internet event/hoax that had something to with an enormous mountain tunnel? [more inside]
posted by Glum on Jun 26, 2006 - 12 answers

Is it possible to fake someone's caller ID to place a crank call? [more inside]
posted by melixxa600 on Dec 26, 2005 - 9 answers

Miss Mefi Manners: What's the proper way to respond to a relative who has sent you a hoax email? [more inside]
posted by Saucy Intruder on Dec 9, 2005 - 27 answers

Anyone know any good books or internet sites relating to the asbestos in tampons hoax? [more inside]
posted by mdbell79 on Aug 18, 2005 - 8 answers

A friend from junior high tracked me down by phone a few years ago (we'd been out of touch for about 15 years), which jump-started our friendship. We’ve never met up again in person (I left our home town years ago), but we stayed in touch via phone calls and email. For various reasons, however, I’ve begun to suspect that I’m being hoaxed in some way. I don't mean that I think this a stranger impersonating my friend, or that I’ve been swindled out of any money or anything. I've just started to get the funny feeling (due to inconsistencies, odd details, explanations that don’t always add up, etc.) that the story I've been given about where they're living, their career (supposedly a high-powered, adventurous one), etc. is just that -- a story that was made up, for some reason, to fool me after all these years.

My amateur detective skills pretty much begin and end with google, however, which has turned up nothing useful. I thought of checking military records (this person claims to have served after college) as a starting point, but I'm a civilian and so can’t access them. Of course I'm wary of the "find out the truth about anyone -- just $39.95!" online ads. Are there any (legitimate) resources I’m overlooking? Any other suggestions with how to deal with what has become an uncomfortable situation?
posted by anonymous on Feb 2, 2005 - 18 answers

Is Brain Respiration yet another New Age-y hoax, or what? (+) [more inside]
posted by mono blanco on Dec 7, 2004 - 7 answers