I'm keeping track of fakes and hoaxes about the shooting at Capital Gazette in Annapolis & will post them in this thread.
If you see any, my email is jane.lytvynenko@buzzfeed.com and my DMs are open, send them my way.
If you see any, my email is jane.lytvynenko@buzzfeed.com and my DMs are open, send them my way.
It's worth noting that some individuals on message boards are already discussing spreading "joke" hoaxes, though they're in the fringe. If you're a reporter, double check your information if it comes from online.
For confirmed reports keep an eye on @BuzzFeedNews.
@BuzzFeedNews When looking for information about the situation, make sure it's coming from legitimate accounts. Both of these are spreading false and unconfirmed information.
(Won't repeat here because not much traction.)
(Won't repeat here because not much traction.)
@BuzzFeedNews The best way to tell if something's being artificially amplified is to look at who RT'ed.
Going to try to not share any hoaxes that haven't been engaged with by real people.
Going to try to not share any hoaxes that haven't been engaged with by real people.
The shooter is never this man. I have seen a couple tweets mention him already and 4chan conspire to spread his name.
These numbers are unconfirmed.
Authorities have not released information about how many were hurt or killed so far.
Do not amplify.
Authorities have not released information about how many were hurt or killed so far.
Do not amplify.
There's a co-ordinated campaign that's spreading a fake suspect's name.
This man is *not* the shooter. We've seen this hoax before. One account has already been banned for spreading it.
This man is *not* the shooter. We've seen this hoax before. One account has already been banned for spreading it.
This refers to a baseless but popular theory that claims shootings are staged for profit.
There is no proof for this but my Twitter and Facebook are already calling Annapolis a 'false flag' without anything even resembling proof.
This happens every shooting now.
There is no proof for this but my Twitter and Facebook are already calling Annapolis a 'false flag' without anything even resembling proof.
This happens every shooting now.
This is a fake New York Times screenshot.
(The nope is my addition to avoid spread.)
(The nope is my addition to avoid spread.)
There is so much speculation about the shooter's motive that some of it is trending.
There has been no official word on what the motive was.
There has been no official word on what the motive was.
Still seeing this report about the suspect burning off his fingertips everywhere. It stemmed from one anonymous source talking to CBS.
Police have strongly denied this.
“It is simply not true that he obliterated his fingerprints,” Frashure told CNN’s Anderson Cooper.
Police have strongly denied this.
“It is simply not true that he obliterated his fingerprints,” Frashure told CNN’s Anderson Cooper.
The fingerprints narrative was a big one so here's my story: buzzfeed.com/janelytvynenko…
