Hoax Alert - Ashley Flores Is Not Missing

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Discussion Overview

This thread discusses the recurring hoax regarding Ashley Flores, a supposed missing girl, and the broader issue of internet hoaxes. Participants share their experiences with receiving similar misleading emails and express their frustrations with the prevalence of such misinformation.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that the Ashley Flores flier lacks valuable details and is a hoax, emphasizing the emotional appeal without factual support.
  • Another participant shares their experience of receiving the hoax email multiple times and expresses frustration over its resurgence.
  • Several users mention using Snopes to verify the authenticity of such emails, with one participant recounting a specific instance where a false claim was incorrectly attributed to Snopes.
  • One participant reflects on the emotional manipulation involved in these hoaxes, suggesting that real missing person cases contain vital information that is often absent in hoaxes.
  • Another participant humorously recalls being misled by a previous hoax, illustrating how easily people can fall for such misinformation.
  • One user discusses the tactics of hoax creators, noting that they often reference credible sources like Snopes to mislead recipients.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the existence and frustration of internet hoaxes, particularly the Ashley Flores case. However, there is no clear consensus on the motivations behind why these hoaxes continue to circulate.

Contextual Notes

The discussion reflects personal experiences with misinformation in emails and highlights the challenges of discerning truth in online communications.

Who May Find This Useful

This thread may be of interest to members of the consultant community who encounter similar hoaxes and seek to understand the dynamics of misinformation online.

The_Kitchen_Guy
The_Kitchen_Guy
Silver Member
Messages
12,389
Several years ago, a flier began making the rounds on the Internet. It proclaims that Ashley Flores, a 13 year old girl, was missing. The flier contains all kinds of emotional text but little valuable details. There are no valuable details on the flier because there aren't any.

It's a hoax.

The clue: It refers to a a detective in the Omaha Police Department, but the supposed missing girl is from Philadelphia.

The darned hoax was almost gone and all of a sudden, it has resurfaced. I've gotten the flier four times in the last two days, so you're probably going to receive it soon.

DO NOT FORWARD THE EMAIL. In fact, reply to it and inform the well-meaning sender that it is a hoax.

You can learn more about it by following these links:

Help Find The Missing - Amber Flores is NOT missing

snopes
 
I have often wondered who the idiot is who has too much time on their hands. There are so many of these hoaxes. I use snopes all of the time and reply with the link. One even had a link that it was verified to be true by snopes...and the link was not accurate. When I did search snopes, the e-mail was a false one!:mad:
 
Yup I just got the email the other day (again)
thanks KG
 
I got it again the other day as well after not seeing it for quite a while.
 
I could easily be a sucker for all of these emails that show up from (mostly)well-meaning people, but before I click the "forward" button, I check this site:

Hoax Busters - the BIG LIST of Internet Hoaxes

I don't want to be the one to perpetuate a bad email!
 
yeah, I've gotten that before; didn't realize it wasn't true....thanks KG
 
  • Thread starter
  • #7
There's something about all of them that just doesn't seem right. When there is a real missing person, the flier will usually contain vital information, like this real missing person:http://www.crimelibrary.com/graphics/photos/news/original/0407/jamie_harper/Heather-Zimmerman(2)200.jpgMissing Since: May 26, 1997 from Gifford, Illinois
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: October 17, 1977
Age: 19 years old
Height and Weight: 5'6; 115 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Blonde hair; green eyes. Heather has a tattoo of three red roses with a black stem on her left outer ankle. She is right-handed.When that sort of information is not in the flier, and there is only an emotional plea, the chances are good that it is a hoax. Do check the story, though, because every missing person deserves all the attention that only a handful of stories get.(For more about this real missing person, see Heather Dawn Zimmerman Missing Since May 26, 1997.)
 
baychef said:
I have often wondered who the idiot is who has too much time on their hands. There are so many of these hoaxes. I use snopes all of the time and reply with the link. One even had a link that it was verified to be true by snopes...and the link was not accurate. When I did search snopes, the e-mail was a false one!:mad:
Click to expand...

I've gotten one recently that is about Obama and it says Snopes says it's true - which is incorrect. Snopes says it's false!

I hate when I get emails from people where a 2 second research trip proves the email wrong. :grumpy:
 
  • Thread starter
  • #9
The clever hoaxsters think that if they reference snopes, you won't look. Which is exactly the reason to go to snopes and look anyway. These people play upon your emotions and, like spammers, they count on the new and inexperienced to blindly forward their junk - which the new and inexperienced gladly do.(The Soviets used to refer to people like that as "useful idiots" for obvious reasons, and counted on them to do their dirty work. So does a certain American political party, and that works, too.)Experienced users can also get scammed sometimes, like the Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide experiment a couple of months ago.
 
The_Kitchen_Guy said:
Experienced users can also get scammed sometimes, like the Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide experiment a couple of months ago.
Click to expand...

That is one of my favorite ones. :D :love: Where is that evil grin smiley when you need it. ;)
 
Yah, rub it in, KG...I usually don't fall but you had me falling face first in the pile of BS...hook, line and sinker!!! I am still ashamed to this day!!!:o
 
  • Thread starter
  • #12
I wouldn't have even remembered that if you hadn't said something.But that's an example of just how easy it is to get swept away by something that sounds really good.
 
I had to laugh a little; just got this email in my inbox! I replied back to the sender that it's not true.
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the "Hoax Alert - Ashley Flores Is Not Missing" about?

The "Hoax Alert - Ashley Flores Is Not Missing" refers to a social media rumor suggesting that a person named Ashley Flores is missing. This claim has been debunked and is considered a hoax, as there is no credible evidence to support the assertion that she is missing.

Why do hoaxes like this spread on social media?

How can I verify if a missing person report is legitimate?

To verify a missing person report, check credible news sources, official law enforcement announcements, or dedicated missing person organizations. Always look for corroborating evidence and avoid sharing unverified information to prevent the spread of misinformation.

What should I do if I see a suspicious post about a missing person?

If you see a suspicious post about a missing person, do not share it immediately. Instead, research the claim using reliable sources, report the post if it is false or misleading, and encourage others to verify information before sharing.

How can I help prevent the spread of hoaxes like this?

You can help prevent the spread of hoaxes by educating yourself and others about how to identify misinformation, encouraging critical thinking, and promoting the importance of fact-checking before sharing content on social media.

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