Frauds, swindles, cons, scams, and deceptions — collectively known as hoaxes. But there's more than meets the eye. With Halloween just a month away, NPR's Word of the Week series delves into the ...

This threat does not actually exist. The hoax, often promoted as a virus warning, malware or ransomware, originated online over a decade prior to the summer of 2025. A rumor shared online in the ...

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — As students across San Diego County prepare to head back to school, the FBI San Diego Field Office is issuing a serious reminder: hoax threats are federal crimes with real ...

A hoax is a deliberately false story, claim, or act made to mislead people into believing something that is not true. Unlike a simple mistake or speculation, a hoax is intentional and carefully built ...

The alert to students at Villanova University was terrifying: "ACTIVE SHOOTER on VU campus. Move to secure location. Lock/barricade doors. More info to follow." Video and photos posted to social media ...