Who is behind Hoax-Slayer? Who writes the articles?
The Hoax-Slayer website is owned and managed by Brett Christensen from his home in Longreach, Queensland, Australia. Brett writes almost all of the articles published on the site. You can find out more by visiting the Hoax-Slayer About page.
How do I know that the information in your articles is accurate?
All articles published on Hoax-Slayer are thoroughly researched prior to publication. Our findings are based on information available via a variety of credible sources including other reputable websites, news articles, press releases, government or company publications and consumer alerts.
If required, we also contact companies, government departments or other relevant entities directly to enquire about the veracity of a particular message. Our articles generally include in-text hyperlinks that allow readers to check the information for themselves.
In other words, you don’t have to blindly take our word for it, nor would we expect you to. We do not declare a message to be untrue unless we have compelling evidence to back up such a declaration. References in our articles allow visitors to verify this evidence and draw their own conclusions.
How is Hoax-Slayer Funded?
Previously, Hoax-Slayer generated revenue via display advertising. Advertisers paid to display ads on the site via Google Adsense and other advertising systems. However, to enhance your privacy and security and offer you a better user experience, Hoax-Slayer is now completely ad-free. To keep the site online, we rely on voluntary contributions from site visitors. You can read more and contribute here.
How can I submit a hoax or scam for analysis?
You can submit examples and offer feedback via the site contact form.
Please note, however, that due to time constraints and the large volume of email we receive, a personal reply is not usually possible.
Your submissions help us work out what hoaxes and scams are circulating at a given time. Submissions are one of the most important ways that we learn about new hoaxes and scams and chart how older versions are evolving over time. And, don’t worry, if we use the material you submit in an article, any information that could identify you will be removed.
Can I have your permission to link to Hoax-Slayer?
Certainly! Go right ahead. Your support is appreciated.
Can I have your permission to republish one of your articles?
No, we do not give permission for our articles to be republished on any other websites or via email, social networks, print publications, or any other format. Using Hoax-Slayer articles on your own site without express permission is an infringement of our copyright. However, you may freely link to any articles on the Hoax-Slayer website.
I want to report a spelling error I found on the site.
Thanks! If someone lets us know about a spelling error, we try to fix it as soon as possible. However, before you contact us about an error, please consider the following points:
- Articles usually include an example of the scam or hoax that we are discussing. We do not correct the spelling or grammar in these examples because we want readers to see the messages in their original form.
- We are Australian and we, for the most part, use British spelling. There are many differences between British and American spelling, so what you consider to be an error may simply be the British spelling equivalent of the word and not incorrect.
There are two Hoax-Slayer websites. How come?
In 2015, work began on a new implementation of Hoax-Slayer that uses a modern content management system (CMS) supplied by WordPress. The CMS makes it much easier to publish and update material and perform site maintenance tasks. As a result, we can spend much more of our time writing articles and much less time performing mundane site maintenance. So, we can offer even more content to our regular followers and visitors. The new CMS implementation has the web address hoax-slayer.net while the legacy site still lives at hoax-slayer.com.
Can you add a link to my website in one of your articles?
No, that is not something that we do. Any message requesting that we add links or participate in any kind of “link exchange” will be deleted without reply.
Since you’ve read this far…
…can I ask you for a big favour?
To enhance your privacy and security and offer you a better user experience, Hoax-Slayer is now completely ad-free. To keep the site online, I rely on voluntary contributions from site visitors.
Please consider supporting Hoax-Slayer by making a donation. Any amount you can give will be greatly appreciated.
You can donate using your credit card via the form below. Donations are collected securely via the online payment service Stripe. Stripe uses state of the art security to keep your data safe.
Thank-you.
Brett Christensen
Importance Notice
After considerable thought and with an ache in my heart, I have decided that the time has come to close down the Hoax-Slayer website.These days, the site does not generate enough revenue to cover expenses, and I do not have the financial resources to sustain it going forward.
Moreover, I now work long hours in a full-time and physically taxing job, so maintaining and managing the website and publishing new material has become difficult for me.
And finally, after 18 years of writing about scams and hoaxes, I feel that it is time for me to take my fingers off the keyboard and focus on other projects and pastimes.
When I first started Hoax-Slayer, I never dreamed that I would still be working on the project all these years later or that it would become such an important part of my life. It's been a fantastic and engaging experience and one that I will always treasure.
I hope that my work over the years has helped to make the Internet a little safer and thwarted the activities of at least a few scammers and malicious pranksters.
A Big Thank You
I would also like to thank all of those wonderful people who have supported the project by sharing information from the site, contributing examples of scams and hoaxes, offering suggestions, donating funds, or helping behind the scenes.I would especially like to thank David White for his tireless contribution to the Hoax-Slayer Facebook Page over many years. David's support has been invaluable, and I can not thank him enough.
Closing Date
Hoax-Slayer will still be around for a few weeks while I wind things down. The site will go offline on May 31, 2021. While I will not be publishing any new posts, you can still access existing material on the site until the date of closure.Thank you, one and all!
Brett Christensen,
Hoax-Slayer