Ad Scams and Arbitrage

Misleading ads often lead to obscure websites that host lengthy slideshow articles with lots of pages — a practice called advertising arbitrage. Snopes is here to save you the click.

A misleading online ad said to wrap foil on a doorknob when alone.

‘Wrap Foil on Doorknob When Alone’ Is Misleading Clickbait

14 September 2022

If an online ad hints at placing a household object where it doesn't normally belong,...

News

Did Meghan Markle’s Net Worth Make the Queen ‘Cringe’?

12 April 2021

Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their son, Archie, moved away from the royal family to...

Fact Check

Did the Queen ‘Reveal’ an ‘Upsetting Truth About Archie’?

9 January 2021

A clickbait advertisement led to an 80-page story about Queen Elizabeth II and Archie, the...

Fact Check

Did the Queen Tell Meghan Markle To ‘Stop’?

17 December 2020

Online advertisements displayed photographs of Meghan Markle and Queen Elizabeth II with big circles that...

Fact Check

An online ad claimed that a picture showed Courteney Cox's true appearance without and with no makeup.

Photo of Courteney Cox ‘Without Makeup’ Is Fake

23 August 2022

If this was an episode of the old "Friends" TV show, it would probably be...

Fact Check

An ad claimed to always put a plastic bottle on your tires when parked and here's why.

Should a Bottle Always Be Put on Tires When Parked?

10 November 2021

We tracked down the origins of the rumor that was displayed in online advertisements.

Fact Check

Online ads claimed there was a reason to wrap your car keys or key fob in foil when you're alone at night, but it was clickbait.

Does Wrapping Car Keys in Foil Protect from Vehicle Theft?

8 August 2022

We looked into a wave of crimes related to keyless entry technology after seeing the...

News

An online ad claimed that a car grab handle aka an oh shit or oh no handle had a hidden purpose that was realized and discovered by a TikTok user.

Do Car Grab Handles Have a ‘Hidden Purpose’ or ‘Hack’?

28 July 2022

An online advertisement claimed that a TikToker discovered the secret purpose behind car grab handles...

Fact Check

Hugh Laurie did not transition or identify as a transgender woman despite a misleading ad that showed a doctored picture of the actor with the word "her."

No, Hugh Laurie Did Not Transition to Become a Woman

28 July 2022

A misleading online advertisement on Yahoo.com with a doctored picture of Laurie appeared to indicate...

Fact Check

A false and misleading ad said that Tom Brady's new yacht or boat that is bigger than the Titanic.

Is Tom Brady’s Yacht Bigger Than the Titanic?

7 June 2022

Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady does own a yacht, but this claim from an...

Fact Check

An online ad claimed If You See a Coin in Your Car Door Handle, Here's What It Means.

Does a Coin Found in a Car Door Handle Mean Something?

6 June 2022

We looked at the origins of an online advertisement that showed a strange picture of...

Fact Check

An online advertisement with a photo of former US President Bill Clinton said that his sickness is so obvious now.

Is the Bill Clinton ‘Sickness’ Photo Real?

18 May 2022

A picture of former U.S. President Bill Clinton showed up in an online ad with...

Fact Check