Ad Scams and Arbitrage

Is the 'Rangers Spot Giant Lion' Story True?

Written by: Jordan Liles

May 2, 2022

We clicked through a 50-page slideshow article to find answers about a supposed "giant lion" tha ...

Did a Vet Call Police After a Horse 'Refused' to Give Birth?

Written by: Jordan Liles

April 14, 2022

We clicked through a 50-page slideshow article to save our readers some time.

Should Travelers Always Keep a Bread Clip in Their Wallet?

Written by: Jordan Liles

April 5, 2022

We looked at the origins of a strange tip after a reader sent in a question about it.

Did Chris Rock Make a 'Heartbreaking' Post?

Written by: Jordan Liles

March 30, 2022

An intriguing article tease went around online after comedian Chris Rock was slapped by actor Wi ...

Are Costco Rotisserie Chickens Being Discontinued?

Written by: Jordan Liles

March 22, 2022

We looked into a rumor that hinted at Costco planning to remove its rotisserie chicken product f ...

Is There a Unique Tip for Cars with Automatic Headlights?

Written by: Jordan Liles

March 7, 2022

We looked for the truth behind online advertisements that claimed there was a unusual or unique ...

'Surprising Ways To Get Rid of House Mold' Ad Is Just Clickbait

Written by: Jordan Liles

Feb. 21, 2022

We looked at an online ad that had popped up on various news websites to see what it was all about.

Are Unsold SUVs in This Photo 'Almost Being Given Away'?

Written by: Jordan Liles

Feb. 18, 2022

A photograph of rows of "unsold SUVs" purportedly waiting to be "given away" was displayed in on ...

Should Coke Always Be Poured on Wheels When Traveling Alone?

Written by: Jordan Liles

Feb. 17, 2022

We tracked down yet another strange rumor that was displayed in online advertisements.

Man Finds Buried Chain, Pulls It Up, and Jumps Back?

Written by: Jordan Liles

Feb. 11, 2022

Wales is a long way from Alabama.

Did an 'Antiques Roadshow' Appraiser Flip a Lion Statue?

Written by: Jordan Liles

Feb. 9, 2022

The ad read: "Appraiser Flips Lion Statue, Tells Mom To Leave."

'Man Saves Her Baby' Ad About Mama Elephant Is Misleading

Written by: Jordan Liles

Feb. 7, 2022

An online advertisement conflated two real stories about successful baby elephant rescues.

Did Costco Discontinue Dungeness Crab?

Written by: Jordan Liles

Jan. 25, 2022

An online advertisement had been misleading readers since at least 2021.

Is the World's Oldest Living TV Star 106 Years Old?

Written by: Jordan Liles

Jan. 24, 2022

A strange online advertisement led to a 156-page slideshow article. We clicked through the whole ...

Did 'Gold Rush' Cast Admit the Show Is Fake?

Written by: Jordan Liles

Jan. 20, 2022

We took a closer look at an online story that teased a picture of Parker Schnabel, a cast member ...

'Boy Pets Creature' Ad Misleads. Here's the Original Video

Written by: Jordan Liles

Jan. 7, 2022

We tracked down the video that was originally shot in the Canary Islands in 2013.

Red Balls on Power Lines: Why Are They Up There?

Written by: Jordan Liles

Jan. 6, 2022

An online advertisement teased an 80-page article about the purpose of installing red balls on p ...

No, Former NFL QB John Elway Is Not 'Broke'

Written by: Jordan Liles

Jan. 5, 2022

The misinformation stemmed from an online advertisement that was being paid for by unknown persons.

'15 Mega Mansions' Ad Fails to Reveal Info About Its Photo

Written by: Jordan Liles

Jan. 4, 2022

The answer: It shows the abandoned "Manor AG Eliseev" in Belogorka, Russia.

Snopes Tips: How To Avoid Ad Arbitrage Clickbait

Written by: Jordan Liles

Jan. 2, 2022

"Ad arbitrage" is when website owners create stories that are broken up into multiple pages, pla ...