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.

Donetsk Sergei Prokofiev International Airport was not completely abandoned in the ocean as hinted at by an online advertisement.

Is Ukraine’s Donetsk Airport ‘Abandoned in the Ocean’?

2 December 2021

The country's Sergei Prokofiev International Airport was destroyed during a violent conflict in 2014.

Fact Check

Police officer and chief Karl Baker was purportedly refused service at a diner and the online ad read as follows Cop Refused Service At A Restaurant Next Day He Does This.

Was Black Police Officer Karl Baker Refused Service at Restaurant?

22 November 2021

According to the story, the police officer who was refused service decided to return to...

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A misleading ad read Woman Files For Divorce After Seeing This Photo - Can You See Why."

Did a Woman File for Divorce After Seeing This Photo?

17 November 2021

We read through a 77-page slideshow article so our readers didn't have to.

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An ad falsely claimed that this picture showed a missing submarine with 80 sailors found and experts discovered the truth.

Was a Missing Submarine with 80 Sailors Found?

15 November 2021

We looked into the origins of an impressive photograph.

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A misleading ad invited readers to meet Michelle Pfeiffer's wife.

Does Michelle Pfeiffer Have a Wife?

15 November 2021

An online advertisement invited readers to "meet Michelle Pfeiffer's wife."

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An ad claimed that a girl disappears every night and that when a father finds out why he calls the police.

Did a 5-Year-Old Girl Disappear from Her Home Every Night?

15 November 2021

According to a story, the father called the police after he found out why the...

Fact Check

At Snopes we debunked the myths behind Elliðaey in Iceland also known as the so-called world's loneliest house.

The ‘World’s Loneliest House’: Elliðaey’s Myths Debunked

12 November 2021

Here are the facts and myths behind the viral photograph.

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Do the McDonald's golden arches look like breasts? That's what a psychologist purportedly found in market research.

Do McDonald’s Golden Arches Symbolize a Mother’s Breasts?

12 November 2021

We tracked down the origins of the tale of a psychologist named Louis Cheskin, who...

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An ad claimed the following words: Fishermen See Animal On Iceberg But Then Look Closer.

Did Fishermen Rescue an Animal from an Iceberg?

11 November 2021

It's unusual for viral stories to deliver on adjectives like "unbelievable."

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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 are misleading about Milana Vayntrub aka Lily Adams from the AT&T commercials.

Rumor Falsely Claims Lily from AT&T Ads Got Fired or Quit

9 November 2021

Actor Milana Vayntrub's work as Lily in AT&T television commercials has long been the subject...

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According to an ad a woman leaves house to neighbour his mouth falls open when he sees what's inside.

‘Woman Leaves House to Neighbor’ Ad Is Not a True Story

8 November 2021

We clicked through 50 pages of fiction so our readers don't have to.

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