Seen At 11: How To Tell If An Internet Rumor Is A Hoax Or The Real Deal

NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) -- So, you get an email from your mother warning you about ruthless carjackers making the rounds.

Or, your friend uploads an 'important message from police' on her Facebook page, about the latest gang initiation craze.

An email lands in your inbox, it's another warning from a friend or relative. This one cautions "if you are driving at night and eggs are thrown at your windshield, do not stop to check your car." Because criminals could be waiting on the side of the road.

Are these posts the real deal or just the latest rumors to hit the internet?

It must be true if dashcam video shows it happening to a police car in White Lake, Michigan, right?

Actually, criminologist Joe Giacalone said that story was just a rumor, one of the latest to be passed around the internet.

"You know that urban legend from years ago, somebody was in the back of your car when you went shopping," Giacalone said.

Urban legends are the stuff movies are made of, but are the majority of the stories that are being proliferated on the internet mostly true or false?

"I got one about Halloween candy, laced gummy worms," Giacalone said.

The recent warning came complete with pictures of adulterated gummy bears, and went on to say that if eaten they could put you in a coma.

"When I was a kid it was the razor blade in the apple," Giacalone said.

Giacalone said the story is totally false.

"Before you share it, or post it, just do a little research," he said.

As Giacalone told CBS2's Dana Tyler, a post is more likely to be real if it contains specifics of the crime, including an exact date, time, location, and police source.

"There are a couple good websites out there that have debunked many of these things," Giacalone said.

Still, some say despite not always being based in reality, these internet rumors can serve a purpose.

"It acts as a public service announcement to get people to be more aware of their surroundings," Giacalone said.

It's not just crimes that are the basis of internet hoaxes. If you're a Facebook user you've probably seen a recent post that the social media site is going to institute a fee for users to keep their profiles private. Experts said that one was false as well.