Hoaxes

28 May 2025

Hoax posts about lost cremation ashes circulate on Facebook

Similar posts have been shared in at least 20 different community groups, claiming a necklace containing ashes has been found in various locations across the UK.

28 May 2025

No, Argos is not ‘giving away’ laptops to the over-40s

A spokesperson for the retailer has confirmed a Facebook post claiming Argos is offering laptops to the over-40s for £4.95 is not a genuine offer.

Closed laptop lying on a wooden background.

28 May 2025

Posts claiming a couple is ‘on the run’ after the death of an 8-month-old baby are hoaxes

The mugshots accompanying the Facebook posts were first released by US police in 2021.

27 May 2025

Facebook reports of a young boy abandoned in Lancashire and West Yorkshire are hoaxes

Police forces for both areas don’t recognise claims on Facebook that a boy aged around seven was found by a roadside and taken to a police station.

phone screen showing Facebook log in page

27 May 2025

Image of ‘found’ two-year-old actually shows child injured in dog attack more than a decade ago

Posts shared to Facebook community groups in the UK falsely claim the boy has been taken to a local police station.

20 May 2025

Warnings about baby killers on the run are false

The individuals pictured were recently arrested in the US.

15 May 2025

Hoax posts circulating on Facebook about stabbed woman found in submerged vehicle

The posts claim the woman was found in different parts of the UK, but share photos showing unrelated incidents in the US.

A dark photo showing someone using a phone.

30 April 2025

Missing child hoax posts use picture from supermarket shopping accident

Facebook posts claim the injured child was found an hour earlier, but the image dates back to 2017.

28 April 2025

Posts claiming to show someone injured in hit-and-run accident actually show man who died of Covid in 2021

The same picture has been posted in community groups for different locations across the UK and abroad.

25 April 2025

Posts claiming police need help to identify stabbing victim are false

The same picture has been posted in Facebook community groups for different locations across the UK.

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Hoax posts about lost cremation ashes circulate on Facebook

No, Argos is not ‘giving away’ laptops to the over-40s

Posts claiming a couple is ‘on the run’ after the death of an 8-month-old baby are hoaxes

Facebook reports of a young boy abandoned in Lancashire and West Yorkshire are hoaxes

Image of ‘found’ two-year-old actually shows child injured in dog attack more than a decade ago

Warnings about baby killers on the run are false

Hoax posts circulating on Facebook about stabbed woman found in submerged vehicle

Missing child hoax posts use picture from supermarket shopping accident

Posts claiming to show someone injured in hit-and-run accident actually show man who died of Covid in 2021

Posts claiming police need help to identify stabbing victim are false

Full Fact fights bad information