How much of what we read on the internet is really true? Different stories are popping up on the internet all the time. Some seem realistic enough, but some are really out there. We’ve seen stories about UFOs, celebrity breakups and Elvis Presley sightings. But what is true or false?

Last week, actor Russell Crowe became a victim of the hottest rumour on the internet. Mr Crowe was rumoured to have fallen to his death off a mountain in Kitzbuhel, Austria.

Of course, this wasn’t true, as his reps confirmed a few hours later.

This was not the only remarkable story printed last week. Albino alligators inhabiting the sewers of New York City, a chicken head found in a McDonald’s box of chicken wings and a child shot by a nail gun all make juicy news, but are these stories true? We all like a good scandal, but it’s hard to differentiate between the latest rumour and actual fact.

Big companies on the web often get interesting calls to their helpdesk with bizarre ideas. A call from a number of players at http://www.mansioncasino.com led authorities to pursue a rumour that Mansion Casino is opening a free pet casino. “The story isn’t true,” confirmed a spokesman at Mansion. “We don’t have a pet casino, although this may be an interesting idea.” It’s amazing how much false information gets on the internet. Be careful, though. Always check your stories!