Fake websites or spoof websites

Fake websites or spoof websites

Examples of false sites to aid in evaluating internet resources

Introduction to fake websites
Librarians and educators need to be able to illustrate to students and users alike that websites cannot always be trusted to provide truthful and accurate data. This page provides examples of websites that are full of lies, inaccuracies or false information - either for amusement or for more worrying reasons. The list does not include phishing sites however; these are intended to fool a person into believing that they are visiting a legitimate bank site for example; there are already plenty of links to these online already.

Fake websites - scientific and commercial

All of the following websites are, to the best of my knowledge fake sites, spoof sites or parodies of 'real' sites. This is by no means a complete collection, nor should it be regarded as definitive. I have tried when possible to indicate if the site is suitable for minors, or if it contains material which viewers may find offensive. However, it is your responsibility to gauge the appropriateness or otherwise of the sites yourself, particularly if you intend to use them for educational purposes.

Sites are arranged in subject groupings, with what I consider to be the most credible examples at the top; hopefully this will help when you come to choose examples for yourself or students. If you find any that no longer exist, or you have other examples, please email me.
This page contains examples of scientific and commercial sites.

There is a second fake or spoof page that looks at examples in the area of Historical, social, academic, religious, travel/tourism and politics, among others.
If you are concerned about your children, you may wish to consider ensuring child internet safety software for their welfare.

Please note however that I cannot tell you if a site is a fake or spoof site. Please do not ask me to arbitrate on your behalf. Please do not email me and ask me to tell you if a site is fake.

Scientific

Bio-Hazard Alert Detector
This site is designed to point out that anyone can put a company together and make it look as though it's appealing and worth investing in.
Type: Scientific
Credibility? 9/10
Child safe? Yes

Dihydrogen Monoxide
Sounds like a very dangerous chemical indeed. It's actually H2O, but if you're not of a scientific mind this site will get you every time.
Type: Scientific
Credibility? 10/10
Child safe? Yes

Genochoice
Prenatal genetics to eliminate various genetic traits in unborn children.Part of the RYT Hospital-Dwayne Medical Center which gives it added credibility.
Type: Scientific
Credibility? 10/10
Child safe? Yes

Save the Tree Octopus
Very well put together site and perfectly believable.
Type: Scientific
Credibility? 10/10
Child safe? Yes

RYT Hospital
Well put together website, linking into a number of other spoof sites, and from a quick view looks entirely bono fide.
Type: Scientific
Credibility? 9/10
Child safe? Yes

The Ova Prima Foundation
This site has scientific 'proof' that the egg came first. Very well done, with todays date, various sections and very academic looking.
Type: Scientific
Credibility? 9/10
Child safe? Yes

Hetracil
Commercial site supposedly selling Hetracil as an 'anti-effeminant' drug. The FAQ is particularly well done.
Type: Scientific
Credibility? 9/10
Child safe? Yes

Havidol
This is another scientific drug site, which looks very impressive at first site.
Type: Scientific
Credibility? 9/10
Child safe? Yes

Male Pregnancy
Another of the RYT linked sites.
Type: Scientific
Credibility? 7/10
Child safe? Yes

The Museum of Jurassic Technology
Museum parody site; very dry and dusty.
Type: Scientific
Credibility? 7/10
Child safe? 16+

Save the Guinea Worm
Well put together site, very credible, but the URL gives the game away.
Type: Scientific
Credibility? 6/10
Child safe? Yes

Online Pregnancy Test
This shouldn't really fool people, but I suspect that it does. You may need to try and be scanned twice to confirm that you are actually pregnant.
Type: Scientific
Credibility? 5/10
Child safe? 14+

Bonsai Kittens
Although this is a fake site, it does 'show' kittens in small jars which is quite upsetting, even though it's obviously photoshopped. The original site was taken down and this is a replacement.
Type: Scientific
Credibility? 8/10
Child Safe? 16+

Music Fauns
A plastic surgery type of site, promising to give pointed ears for better experiencing music. I think it's a fake. I hope it's a fake!
Type: Scientific
Credibility? 10/10
Child safe? Yes

The Institute of Delicious Whale Research
Lots of interesting information about whales.
Type: Scientific
Credibility? 6/10 due to being dated
Childsafe? Yes

Save the Rennets
Rennets are small hamster like rodents which are intensively factory farmed and slaughtered for the production of cheese.
Type: Scientific
Credibility? 8/10
Child Safe? 11+

The Dangers of Bread
Amusing, spoof single page.
Type: Scientific
Credibility? 3/10
Child Safe? Yes

The Ova Prima Foundation
This site answers the age old question of which came first, the chicken or the egg.
Type: Scientific
Credibility? 10/10
Child Safe? Yes

Aluminum Foil Deflector Beanie
"An effective, low cost solution to combating mind-control" Well put together site, with a lot of humour.
Type: Scientific
Credibility? 5/10
Child Safe? Yes

Feline reactions to bearded men
The URL rather gives the game away, but it's quite amusing.
Type: Scientific
Credibility? 4/10
Child Safe? Yes

Commercial

Floral Sculpture Clinic
This is close to be entirely possible. The site offers to sell you items that can be inserted under the skin and onto the bone to create sculpture under the skin. It's another of those 'probably not true, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was' sites.
Type: Commercial
Credibility? 10/10
Child safe? Yes

Pets or Food
A supposedly commercial site selling exotic animals for food. This is very well done, and has a semi working ordering system.
Type: Commercial
Credibility? 10/10
Child safe? May upset younger children

Petrol Direct
Buy your petrol direct and have it delivered. It sounds like a sensible deal.
Type: Commercial
Credibility? 8/10
Child safe? Yes

Baby cages
Infant confinement specialists since 2001. This is one of those 'it's probably not true... is it?' sites that you can't be absolutely sure about. I think this URL has been bought out, but much of the data is still there.
Type: Commercial
Credibility? 7/10
Child safe? Yes

Telco Powered Products
A range of products that are powered by the electricity you get from the telephone point. Sounds credible, although the site design isn't that professional, but it's good enough.
Type: Commercial
Credibility? 7/10
Child safe? Yes

Dehydrated water
A commercial website selling dehydrated water. Very well put together.
Type: Commercial
Credibility? 7/10
Child safe? Yes

Rectaltronics Inc.
A commercial website selling sex toys. Well done, though somewhat dated, and some of the links show it up as a hoax very quickly.
Type: Commercial
Credibility? 5/10
Child safe? Adults Only

Free electricity project
Campaign for free electricity. Very busy, and while it's well done I think it's a bit too over the top to be entirely believable.
Type: Commercial
Credibility? 5/10
Child safe? Yes

FlikFX Digital Recomposition System
A system to digitally remove white space in movies to make the suitable for television viewing. Not terribly believable, and the screen shots are not of a high quality, but it's reasonably well done.
Type: Commercial
Credibility? 4/10
Child safe? Yes

Real Hamster
A stuffed, toy hamster used as a sex aid. (No, really!)
Type: Commercial
Credibility? ?/10
Child safe? Adult Only

Furnetics
The world's only provider of customized genetic body modification solutions. Looks top notch.
Type:Commercial
Credibility? 9/10
Childsafe? Yes

Funky Shoes
Shoes with a past life. Shoes with karma. Shoes with history and character. Perhaps.
Type: Commercial
Credibility? 4/10
Child Safe? Yes

Velcro Crop Failures
This site is dated to 1993 and has the look of a very early site as well. Content is obvious from the title. Fairly dry and boring.
Type: Commercial
Credibility? 6/10
Child Safe? Yes