Internet scams are numerous, some of the hoaxes are totally harmless, others are designed to steal your money or private information.
On the other hand, there are scams that look like totally legit things, while others are obvious hoaxes that are designed to make you laugh.
Those totally obvious hoaxes are often used as satire to ridicule some idea, concept or realia.
Otherwise, those sites are just entertaining designed to trigger emotions.
The Onion: Your Weekly Source of Fake News
The Onion is a satirical weekly publication published 52 times a year on Thursdays… The Onion is not intended for readers under 18 years of age. The Onion uses invented names in all its stories, except in cases where public figures are being satirized. Any other use of real names is accidental and coincidental.
Be sure to check their Video section out: their fake-news CNN-style videos will make your day!
Landover Baptist Church
Landover Baptist Church “Guarantees salvation since 1620”. In reality it is all about fictional church based in a fictional town and is intended to be a parody of independent Baptist churches.
The site provides for plenty of fun like forums, quizzes, and even kids’ corner. (notice that under the terms of service, “The Landover Baptist Church website is not intended to be viewed by minors or anyone under the age of 18“)
Male Pregnancy
MalePregnancy.com is a site dedicated to the world’s first medical experiment: male pregnancy.
The site features easy-to-believe documentary describing how the world is going to change when men start getting pregnant as well as message boards listing fake messages by fake members.
Hetracil: Anti-Homosexuality Medicine
Hetracil is reported to be “the world’s most widely prescribed anti-effeminate” prescribed by doctors to prevent homosexuality.
The site looks as a classic medical website with “About the disease” and “Ask the doctor” sections:
More than 80 million Americans suffer from some type of Homosexuality, and one in eight persons need treatment for Homosexuality during his or her lifetime. Homosexuality is not a character flaw; it is neither a “mood” nor a personal weakness that you can change at will or by “pulling yourself together.”
DreamTech International [CLONES-R-US]
CLONES-R-US is claimed to be the “largest reproductive cloning provider“.
The site offers a list of satisfied customers, price list and cloning FAQ:
Why should I obtain a clone child?
That depends. You may wish to more or less know what you’ll be getting, or to eliminate the risk of congenital disabilities. You might wish to propagate the genes of someone who has had no children in the conventional manner. You may want a specific type of offspring. Or you may not be able to reproduce sexually.
First Genetics
First Genetics is all about “Marty the Mandrill,” the monkey, “the first genetically engineered organism to show signs of intelligence manipulation through selective chromosome laser enhancement”.
Marty is the only primate able to communicate with Homo Sapiens in their own language via typing in fluent English.
The site offers a number of “research papers” and even the way to speak to the monkey using the webcam (but you should “refrain from using profound language. Marty is very sensitive and is looking forward to making new friends.”).
Pets or Food
Petsorfood.com advertises a unique service “provide freshly clubbed and frozen baby seal meat [as long as other cute and exotic animals] to American dinner tables.”
The site home page features a photo of a cute baby seal that breaks my heart:
Christopher Walken 2008
Christopher Walken’s 2008 Presidential Campaign site that was mentioned by Washington Post as well as other reputable web resources.
Fake sites that I didn’t mention above because:
- It looks ugly (though I loved the idea of saving the Guinea Worm facing extinction): Save the Guinea Worm Foundation;
- I can’t stand those photos of cute kittens stuck in a bottle (yes, I am aware of the fact that’s a hoax): Bonsai Kitten;
- One mention is more than enough for RYT hospital: GenoChoice.com (provided by creators of Male Pregnancy mentioned above).
Any more?
Are you aware of more spoof website that are obvious scams? Share the on the comments and I will add them to the post!
