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Home --> 25 Hottest Urban Legends

25 Hottest Urban Legends

Friday, May 09, 2008

This page compiles the 25 urban legends currently circulating most widely, as determined by frequency of access, user searches, reader e-mail, and media coverage.   RSS feed for this page

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        John McCain
  1. E-mails about Arizona senator (and presidential hopeful) John McCain.


    2.     Postcard / Greeting Card Virus
  2. E-mailed computer virus masquerades as a postcard from a friend or family member.


    3.     Barack Obama
  3. E-mails about Illinois senator (and presidential hopeful) Barack Obama.


    4.     Bankruptcy and Gift Cards
  4. E-mail urges consumers to redeem gift cards issued by companies that have recently filed for bankruptcy.


    5.     Bee Sting Treatment
  5. E-mail advises easing the pain of a bee sting by taping a copper penny to it.


    6.     Cell Phone Directory and Telemarketers
  6. E-mail claims cell phone numbers are about to be given to telemarketers.


    7.     Aspartame
  7. E-mail warns that the artificial sweetener Aspartame is responsible for an epidemic of diseases.


    8.     Social Security
  8. E-mails about the U.S. Social Security system.


    9.     New Dollar Coin and 'In God We Trust'
  9. E-mail claims the design of new U.S. dollar coins omits the motto "In God We Trust."


    10.     Windfall Profits Tax
  10. E-mail claims Rep. Nancy Pelosi has proposed a windfall profits tax on retirement income.


    11.     Brown Recluse Spider
  11. E-mailed photographs document the effects of a brown recluse spider bite.


    12.     #77 or *677 Cell Phone Notification
  12. E-mail advises contacting police by calling #77 (or *677) on a cell phone.


    13.     Holocaust Teaching in UK Schools
  13. E-mail claims students in the UK are not taught about the Holocaust.


    14.     Cheating at Gas Pump
  14. E-mail warns consumers to be wary of malfunctioning gas pumps.


    15.     Dust Off
  15. E-mail details child's death from huffing cans of compressed air.


    16.     Bill Gates / Microsoft / AOL Giveaway
  16. E-mail claims Bill Gates, Microsoft and AOL are giving away cash and merchandise to those who forward an e-mail message.


    17.     Perfume Robbers
  17. E-mail warns of parking lot thieves who render their victims unconscious with ether-laced perfume.


    18.     Plastic Water Bottle Re-Use
  18. E-mail warns that reusing plastic water bottles causes them to break down into carcinogenic compounds.


    19.     #-9-0 Phone Scam
  19. Warning about scammers' running up long-distance charges by asking victims to press #-9-0 on their telephones.


    20.     Kidnapped Child Rumor
  20. E-mail warns about an attempted child abduction at a Sam's Club store.


    21.     809 Area Code Scam
  21. E-mail warns about scammers' sending pages from the 809 area code.


    22.     A Shark's Love
  22. PowerPoint presentation describes the affection between a shark and her rescuer.


    23.     "To My Child": Rachel Arlington
  23. George Arlington's e-mailed plea on behalf of his leukemia-stricken daughter, Rachel.


    24.     Citgo Buycott / Boycott
  24. E-mails urge Americans to buy/not buy gasoline from Citgo or Petro Express stations.


    25.     Osama bin Laden Virus
  25. E-mailed computer virus claims Osama bin Laden has been captured or hanged.
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