Alert: Fake Article About a Deaf Woman Being Arrested
Sunday April 9, 2006
If you get an e-mail forwarded to you about a deaf woman named Judy Slomovic Gunter being arrested, it is most likely a fake. The title is "Rochester Woman Arrested in Alleged Charity Scam." The reasons that I believe it is fake: At the bottom of the e-mail, it says "Copyright (c) 2006, Democrats and Chroncile, All rights reserved." Anyone who is familiar with the D&C newspaper of Rochester would know that that is a misspelling. Plus, a search of the Democrat and Chronicle newspaper website failed to turn up a reporter with the name of "David Boris." I confirmed that there is no "David Boris" in an IM chat with Greg Livadas of the Democrat and Chronicle newspaper. Whoever is doing this is clearly trying to destroy the reputation of a deaf businesswoman. Gunter runs the deafbiz.com website.
Comments
Yes, this email is fake. There’s two rather large mistakes in it.
First, if you looked at the copyright notice at the bottom of the email it says “Copyright (c) 2006, Democrats and Chroncile, All rights reserved. Use of this site signifies agreement to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.”
If you check the articles on the D&C website, you will see “Copyright (c) Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Gannett Co., Inc. by NewsBank, inc.” Proper copyright notices have this kind of thing. The “Terms of Service and Privacy Policy” are what you will find on a website or an internet service provider, never in an article.
Second, if you do a search on the D&C site, you will not find any article *OR* reporter of that name.
This was confirmed with Jamie’s checking with a known reporter at the D&C that there is none of that name.
Jamie, thank you for bringing it up to my attention. I wasn’t aware of this until another blogger brought it to my attention.
Greg Livadas knows who I am so he knows it’s a fake.
I have absolutely no idea why I’m a victim of a smear campaign.
I’ve received two obscene emails on Saturday and my webhost is working on tracing it.
It’s a shame that it’s happening to me because the purpose of deafbiz.com is to publicize deaf-related websites, and deaf operated websites.
JSG
What a shame. Hope the webhost will be able to track it down.
I didnt beleive this myself too as I did a search on the internet myself. I checked the local paper in Rochester and checked the website of Channel 10 and 13. Nothing came up so I knew this was all a fake. Judy I hope you press charges against this guy for harrassment.
Geez! What a shame…
Wow, I can not believe that! How could that sick person saying negative stuffs to innocence person!
Hope somebody can track that person down!
SH
Glad you investigated the matter and I am glad we never posted the news on USA-L News. Anytime someone sends me something, I have to check the source. You did a great public service, Jamie. Thank you.
sound like that is really serious crime. she better stop that act like real serious crime.now they looking for her. what about reward? huh!
I have been targeted of a fake article “Deaf man of Tucson arrested in major scam” My good friend alerted me to this such email he received and noticed that I am online on aim and was puzzled that I am not in jail so asked me if I am being investigated by police. I am like “me in trouble for what? what police investigation?” Then he forwarded me the letter, I Laughed that and relieved that I am not the only one who has been targeted in such heinous prank! It seems that someone who is doing this hates us or playing fun of deaf people or whatever?
Recently, there has been numerous attacks on deaf leaders either via email, newsgroups, blogs, postings, and websites. These people who attack deaf leaders are just the very reasons that justify the society’s need for agencies like ours as we have the means to connect people with personal challenges to the right kind of help they need to be able to lead a safe, healthy, and productive living as everyone else.
Richard Roehm
OCDAC