1. Fortunately, the Internet itself provides a good way to debunk these hoaxes.

2. Although bids were received for amounts as high as $160,109.99, many were either retracted by the bidders or cancelled as hoaxes.

3. In 1773 there appeared in the Public Advertiser one of Franklin's Cleverest hoaxes, " An Edict of the King of Prussia," proclaiming that the island of Britain was a colony of Prussia, having been settled by Angles and Saxons, having been protected by Prussia, having been defended by Prussia against France in the war just past, and never having been definitely freed from Prussia's rule; and