Hoaxes & Spoofs
Many entertainment websites contain bogus information such as spoof news reports. Some campaign and activist sites mimic the domain name and design of an official source for reasons of satire or misinformation. Researchers must take care to perform thorough provenance checks before using material from a Web site.
Many sites have an "about us" section revealing information about the site and contact details for its owners. Crosscheck these details with directory enquiries before making contact, as this lessens the chances of involving a hoax Web site.
A simple background check is advised for any source or contributor we wish to use. Searching the web for references to a site's domain name may confirm its official status, but it might also reveal it to be a hoax.
Researchers can also conduct a "WHOIS" search to check the registration details of a domain name. This will often reveal the name, address and telephone number of a Web site's owner.