When we started seeing rumors about rapper Eminem being stabbed four times in New York City, we knew the story and image looked familiar. And fake. That’s because the same story and photo were used in April 2012 in a similar hoax featuring Justin Bieber
Eminem Stabbed
Links to this phony story started appearing on social media on Monday, upsetting fans of the rapper. But we recognized the image from an article we posted just over a year ago, but at that time it was attached to Justin Bieber.
The 2013 version of the hoax reads:
Rapper Eminem Left Nearly DEAD After Being Stabbed 4 Times in NYC!!
(link)
Warning 18+!! It was all caught on surveilance video! Click the pic to play the video!
The story is a lie and there is no video to see. The link being circulated is meant to dupe readers into visiting a survey page. A later version included a link to malware. Either way, you’re better off not clicking the links to this phony story. We have included screen shots of the 2012 Bieber hoax along with the current 2013 Eminem hoax. It is easy to see the similarities:
The Photo
As we reported last year, the photo being circulated with the fake Eminem and Bieber stories is at least several years old. The image has been found in multiple location. Forums discussing the photo attribute it to an officer who was injured in a knife assault, and also a prisoner who was the victim of a knife attack. The origin is unclear at this point, but it definitely isn’t Eminem or Justin Bieber.
Justin Bieber Stabbed
This didn’t happen. The story first appeared in December 2011, and resurfaced again in April 2012. Clicking the link will post the story to your profile and “like” the spammers page in an underhanded way to proliferate their scams.
The graphic reads:
(Video) – Justin Bieber STABBED By CRAZED Fan Outside N.Y.C. NightClub!
dsdsfdsffsdbvdfg.blogspot.com.ar
WTF – Cant blieve this happened extremely painful
The photo being circulated with the fake Justin Bieber story is at least a couple of years old. You can find it in multiple locations, such as here from 2010. Forums discussing the photo attribute it to an officer who was injured in a knife assault, and also a prisoner who was the victim of a knife attack. The origin is unclear at this point, but it definitely isn’t Justin Bieber.
What is certain is that if you click the link, you will become the pawn to a spammer, liking his page and posting spam on your own profile. Best advice is just to ignore it, and if you see it posted – drop a link to this article in the comments to shut them up!
2013 Version
The rumor appeared again in June 2013, this time primarily on Twitter. The rumor states that Bieber was stabbed and “is in intensive care.” Unlike the previous incarnations which were used as bait for spam, this appearance seems to be nothing more than an old-fashioned rumor passed around with no merit or proof, possibly after someone spotted a fake Facebook post and “reported” it to Twitter.
Bottom Line
Eminem was not stabbed in May 2013 in New York City, and neither was Justin Bieber in 2012. If you see this link do not click it because it may link to malware. At last sighting, Eminem alive and well and currently working on a new album.
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