Death Scams and Hoaxes

According to a report circulating rapidly via social media, Casey Anthony has been found dead.

Posts claiming that veteran actor Clint Eastwood has died are circulating rapidly via social media.

Since May 2017, rumours about the death of former First Lady of the Philippines Imelda Marcos have again been circulating via Facebook and Twitter. 

Internet messages that falsely claim that a celebrity has died have been around for many a long year. In earlier times, these messages tended to be just silly poor-taste hoaxes that posed no real security threat to recipients. But, alas, the modern incarnations of these fake death messages tend to be considerably more sinister.

Circulating social media post claims that popular entertainer Beyonce has committed suicide after having dinner with Jay Z and Nicki Minaj.

Circulating “breaking news” posts claim that Donald Trump has suffered from a cardiac arrest and died while addressing the public. The posts include an image apparently depicting Trump collapsed on the stage floor after the heart attack.

“Breaking news” post circulating via social media claims that popular US actor Brad Pitt has been found dead. The post purports to be from Fox News.

“News” posts circulating via social media claim that popular American singer and actress Miley Cyrus has been found dead at her Hollywood home.

According to a report circulating via social media and the blogosphere, Steve Burns, former host of popular children’s TV show Blue’s Clues, has died in a car accident.