Business

Did McDonald's issue a statement on October 20, 2024, that stated Kamala Harris had never worked at a McDonald's franchise? No, that's not true: McDonald's never issued such a statement. Instead, an October 20, 2024, internal memo attributed to McDonald's acknowledges, without refuting, "Vice President Harris's fond memories working under the Arches." The claim appeared in a post (archived here)…

Is the offer of a $750 Kroger gift card for answering a few questions after following a link on Facebook legitimate? No, that's not true: The link for the supposed offer does not go to the Kroger website. The terms and conditions for this supposed "gift card" require users to complete a certain number of so-called "deals," which usually require…

Is retail chain Costco refusing to accept returns on toilet paper, paper towels, sanitizing wipes and other items amid the "chaos" caused by Hurricane Milton? No, that's not true: A sign stating that Costco will not give customers a refund on these items already appeared in social media posts in 2020, when people were hoarding supplies at the outset of…

Does the "fine print" on Kamala Harris' plan of $25,000 for first-time homeowners say a person is not eligible if they have a relative who has ever owned a home? No, that's not true: There is no proof that the plan has restrictions on people whose mother, father, brother or sister have ever owned a home. Her campaign website states…

Have authorities in various towns and counties in the U.S. found a lost "little boy," approximately 2 years old, whose place of residence is unknown, as a post on Facebook claimed? No, that's not true: This post, and others like it, are part of a known deception to trick people into sharing content. In this scam, a shared claim will…

Does a photo in an online article prove that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy bought Hitler's Mercedes during his 2024 trip to the United States? No, that's not true: The article's image of the vehicle, supposedly in front of the Ukrainian presidential administration building, was digitally manipulated. The picture of this antique car has been online since 2018 and was first…

Did Elon Musk post a promo code to his crypto project on X, and was that post then used to make a Times Square billboard promotion in New York City? No, that's not true: This is a fabricated image promoting a crypto currency scam. There is no evidence that Musk made this post or that the crypto promotion ever appeared…

Did government agencies conspire to direct Hurricane Helene to cause damage in the town of Kings Mountain, North Carolina -- to depress the value of properties needed to open a $90 million lithium mine? No, that's not true: This conspiracy is flawed at its foundation -- an expert with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration told Lead Stories that "no…

Did the CEO of ABC hint that the network may cancel "The View," saying "It's time to end a show that's lost its relevance"? No, that's not true: The website that originally reported this comes with a satire label. Neither ABC itself nor news websites have published anything about the ABC CEO hinting about a potential cancellation and some of…

Was a little boy, approximately 2 or 3 years old, found unattended in several locations, and is he now being cared for at a police station? No, that's not true: The posts circulating on social media are not based on a real, ongoing incident. The deceptive posts use the same photos and captions, but change the name of the town…

Are social media posts about a 3-year-old girl named Alliyah Evans who supposedly was kidnapped from a Target store in various locations real? No, that's not true: The posts that say that she is missing in several different places -- like Greenville, North Carolina; Georgetown, Kentucky; and Stuttgart, Arkansas -- are part of a bait-and-switch scheme. Typically, users post emotional…

Does Coca-Cola allow personalized cans to say "Allah Loves You" but not "Jesus Loves You"? No, that's not true: Neither phrase is allowed on custom cans that customers can order from the online Coca-Cola Store. The company's website states that names and phrases may be rejected if they are trademarked, political, religious or could be seen as offensive. The claim…

Does a viral video offer evidence that children's faces are being "harvested" in China or anywhere in the world to be transplanted onto female recipients trying to look younger? No, that's not true: Both Mandarin subtitles and original voice-overs in the video discussed facelifts -- a much more common surgical procedure that doesn't require any other person's face. Face transplants…

Did social media posts share the true story of the disappearance of Raymond Peterson and his wife Sophie from Livingston Parish in Louisiana? No, that's not true: The posts were part of a bait-and-switch technique commonly seen on Facebook where the content of emotionally charged posts calling for help later get replaced by a scam real-estate ad. The real names…

Is Starbucks going cashless in the U.K. on October 1, 2024? No, that's not true: A spokesperson told Lead Stories that Starbucks does not have a cashless policy in that country. This appears to be a reincarnation of a recycled 2022 rumor that baselessly speculated about the same cash ban going into effect in October of that year. The claim…

Did the White House announce a new debt-relief program for veterans who owe money on their credit cards? No, that's not true: A video on Facebook that made this claim used a fake screenshot of the White House website to create a misleading impression involving an article supposedly published on July 6, 2024. In reality, the Biden-Harris White House made…

Is the offer of a $750 Shein gift card for answering a few questions after following a link on Facebook legitimate? No, that's not true: The fast-fashion retailer told Lead Stories that "this is not a legitimate offer." The terms and conditions for a gift card require more than just a questionnaire. Users must finish a certain number of "deals,…

Did Coca-Cola cut ties with Taylor Swift after she endorsed Kamala Harris for president? No, that's not true: This comes from a social media post that's clearly marked as satire. Coca-Cola told Lead Stories it wasn't true, and it's not even clear the company still had any contractual ties to Swift when she made her political plug. The claim appeared…

Was a 2024 recall of instant ramen noodles linked to deaths of five children in the U.S., as a post on TikTok suggested? No, that's not true: At the time of this publication, one voluntary recall was listed on the Food and Drug Administration website for Sun Noodles products because they may contain undeclared egg white powder. Sun Noodles confirmed…

Has police Deputy Tyler Cooper in a town called Surprise found a 2-year-old boy wandering alone, and can't the police find his mother named Ella? No, that's not true: The "deputy" in the post is not listed by name on either the Surprise, Arizona, police department or county sheriff's department websites. The person who posted the story blotted out the…