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Don’t assume the person who posted it checked the facts

Don’t assume the person who posted it checked the facts.

Instead, search for the original source.

If the claim says Fox News reported something, look for the actual Fox News story.

Then check at least two independent reputable news organizations.

For an aircraft accident, look for official aviation or emergency-response information.

If none of those sources confirm the event, treat the claim as unverified.

Look for Specific Details Another useful technique is to examine the details.

Ask:

Where exactly did the crash happen?

What aircraft was involved?

What was the registration number?

What flight was it?

When did it depart?

Where was it going?

Who reported the crash?

Which emergency service responded?

How many people were aboard?

What evidence shows that Biden was on the aircraft?

A legitimate breaking-news story may initially lack some details.

But as time passes, credible reporting should provide increasingly specific information.

A fabricated post often remains vague.

It uses dramatic language instead of verifiable facts.

That is what we see with this claim.

Be Careful With Photographs Fake stories are sometimes accompanied by photographs.

A photograph of an airplane wreck can look convincing.

But the photograph might have nothing to do with the alleged event.

Images of old crashes can be downloaded and reused.

Photographs from unrelated countries can be presented as though they were taken in North America.

Even genuine images can be misleading if the caption is false.

Therefore, seeing wreckage in a picture does not establish that the photograph depicts a particular crash.

The image needs to be independently verified.

The Danger of Fake Obituaries Another tactic used in false death stories is the creation of fake obituary pages.

A page may contain a photograph, biography and supposed date of death.

It can look authentic at first glance.

But the existence of a webpage doesn’t prove the event occurred.

Readers should check who published the page, whether the organization…

Readers should check who published the page, whether the organization is legitimate

and whether other reputable sources report the same death.

A real death of a former U.S. president would not depend on one obscure webpage for confirmation.

Why This Matters Beyond Joe Biden The immediate subject is Joe Biden.

But the broader issue affects everyone.

False information can concern presidents, actors, athletes, musicians, business leaders and ordinary people.

Sometimes fake death reports are merely upsetting.

Other times they can have serious financial or political consequences.

False reports about political leaders can influence markets, elections and public behavior.

False reports about companies can affect stock prices.

False reports about emergencies can cause unnecessary panic.

That is why verification is not simply an academic exercise.

It is part of responsible participation in the information environment.

The Difference Between “Unverified” and “False” There is an important distinction here.

If evidence is missing, it can be tempting to say immediately:

“This is definitely fake.”

But responsible fact-checking should be precise.

At the time of checking, the claim is unverified and unsupported by credible reporting.

That is a stronger and more responsible conclusion than inventing certainty.