List of fake news websites
Updated: 5/20/2026, 7:12:03 PM Wikipedia source
Fake news websites are those which intentionally publish hoaxes and misinformation for purposes other than news satire. Some of these sites use homograph spoofing attacks, typo squatting and other deceptive strategies similar to those used in phishing attacks to resemble genuine news outlets.
Tables
· Lists › Campaigns by individuals › American News LLC
American News
American News
Name
American News
Domain
americannews
Status
Defunct
Notes
Published a false story claiming actor Denzel Washington endorsed Donald Trump for U . president. The fictional headline led to thousands of people sharing it on Facebook, a prominent example of fake news spreading on the social network prior to the 2016 presidential election.
Conservative 101
Conservative 101
Name
Conservative 101
Domain
conservative101
Notes
Falsely claimed that the White House fired Kellyanne Conway.
Democratic Review
Democratic Review
Name
Democratic Review
Domain
DemocraticReview
Status
Defunct
Notes
Owned by American Review LLC of Miami, the same company that owns American News (americannews ), Conservative 101 and Liberal Society.
Liberal Society
Liberal Society
Name
Liberal Society
Domain
LiberalSociety
Status
Defunct
Notes
Published a fake direct quote attributed to Obama, Falsely claimed that the White House fired Kellyanne Conway.
| Name | Domain | Status | Notes | Sources |
| American News | americannews | Defunct | Published a false story claiming actor Denzel Washington endorsed Donald Trump for U . president. The fictional headline led to thousands of people sharing it on Facebook, a prominent example of fake news spreading on the social network prior to the 2016 presidential election. | |
| Conservative 101 | conservative101 | Falsely claimed that the White House fired Kellyanne Conway. | ||
| Democratic Review | DemocraticReview | Defunct | Owned by American Review LLC of Miami, the same company that owns American News (americannews ), Conservative 101 and Liberal Society. | |
| Liberal Society | LiberalSociety | Defunct | Published a fake direct quote attributed to Obama, Falsely claimed that the White House fired Kellyanne Conway. |
· Lists › Campaigns by individuals › Jestin Coler
washingtonpost
washingtonpost
Name
washingtonpost
Domain
washingtonpost
Notes
Originally registered by Jestin Coler. The Washington Post submitted a complaint against Coler's registration of the site with GoDaddy under the UDRP, and in 2015, an arbitral panel ruled that Coler's registration of the domain name was a form of bad-faith cybersquatting (specifically, typosquatting), "through a website that competes with Complaina
| Name | Domain | Status | Notes | Sources |
| washingtonpost | washingtonpost | Originally registered by Jestin Coler. The Washington Post submitted a complaint against Coler's registration of the site with GoDaddy under the UDRP, and in 2015, an arbitral panel ruled that Coler's registration of the domain name was a form of bad-faith cybersquatting (specifically, typosquatting), "through a website that competes with Complaina |
· Lists › Campaigns by individuals › Paul Horner
ABCnews
ABCnews
Name
ABCnews
Domain
ABCnews
Status
Defunct
Notes
Owned by Paul Horner. Mimics the URL, design and logo of ABC News (owned by Disney–ABC Television Group).
mericaland
mericaland
Name
mericaland
Domain
mericaland
Status
Defunct
NBC
NBC
Name
NBC
Domain
NBC
Status
Defunct
Notes
Imitates NBC.
St George Gazette
St George Gazette
Name
St George Gazette
Domain
stgeorgegazette
Status
Defunct
| Name | Domain | Status | Notes | Sources |
| ABCnews | ABCnews | Defunct | Owned by Paul Horner. Mimics the URL, design and logo of ABC News (owned by Disney–ABC Television Group). | |
| mericaland | mericaland | Defunct | ||
| NBC | NBC | Defunct | Imitates NBC. | |
| St George Gazette | stgeorgegazette | Defunct |
· Lists › Campaigns by individuals › WTOE 5 News
16WMPO
16WMPO
Name
16WMPO
Domain
16WMPO
Status
Defunct
Notes
Impostor site, per PolitiFact. Likely part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
alynews
alynews
Name
alynews
Domain
alynews
Status
Defunct
Notes
Part of a network that posted a false story that there was a sequel to the movie Step Brothers in the works in 2016. Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
channel16news
channel16news
Name
channel16news
Domain
channel16news
Status
Defunct
Notes
Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
channel17news
channel17news
Name
channel17news
Domain
channel17news
Status
Defunct
Notes
Likely part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
Channel 18 News
Channel 18 News
Name
Channel 18 News
Domain
Channel18News
Notes
Impostor site, per PolitiFact. Likely part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
clancyreport
clancyreport
Name
clancyreport
Domain
clancyreport
Notes
Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
Daily News 10
Daily News 10
Name
Daily News 10
Domain
DailyNews10
Notes
Impostor site, per PolitiFact. Likely part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
Daily News 11
Daily News 11
Name
Daily News 11
Domain
dailynews11
Notes
Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
Daily News 5
Daily News 5
Name
Daily News 5
Domain
DailyNews5
Notes
Impostor site, per PolitiFact. Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
Headline Brief
Headline Brief
Name
Headline Brief
Domain
headlinebrief
Notes
Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
km8news
km8news
Name
km8news
Domain
km8news
Notes
Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
KMT 11 News
KMT 11 News
Name
KMT 11 News
Domain
kmt11
Status
Defunct
Notes
Falsely reports celebrity appearances and filming locations in random local towns. Before the website went down, it referred to itself as a "fantasy news website".
Likely part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
knp7
knp7
Name
knp7
Domain
kp11
Status
Defunct
Notes
Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
kspm33
kspm33
Name
kspm33
Domain
kspm33
Notes
Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
KUPR7
KUPR7
Name
KUPR7
Domain
kupr7
Notes
Likely part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
ky6news
ky6news
Name
ky6news
Domain
ky6news
Notes
Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
KY12News
KY12News
Name
KY12News
Domain
KY12News
Notes
Impostor site, per PolitiFact. Likely part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
KYPO6
KYPO6
Name
KYPO6
Domain
kypo6
Status
Defunct
Notes
Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
Local 31 News
Local 31 News
Name
Local 31 News
Domain
Local31News
Notes
Impostor site, per PolitiFact. Likely part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
localnews33
localnews33
Name
localnews33
Domain
localnews33
Notes
Part of the same network as alynews
lopezreport
lopezreport
Name
lopezreport
Domain
lopezreport
Notes
Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
maywoodpost
maywoodpost
Name
maywoodpost
Domain
maywoodpost
Notes
Likely part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
mbynews
mbynews
Name
mbynews
Domain
mbynews
Notes
Part of the same network as alynews
McKenzie Post
McKenzie Post
Name
McKenzie Post
Domain
mckenziepost
Notes
Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
NewsDaily12
NewsDaily12
Name
NewsDaily12
Domain
NewsDaily12
Notes
Impostor site, per PolitiFact. Likely part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
newsdaily27
newsdaily27
Name
newsdaily27
Domain
newsdaily27
Notes
Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
oreillypost
oreillypost
Name
oreillypost
Domain
oreillypost
Notes
Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
wcpm3
wcpm3
Name
wcpm3
Domain
wcpm3
Notes
Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
wleb21
wleb21
Name
wleb21
Domain
wleb21
Notes
Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
WRPT 16 News
WRPT 16 News
Name
WRPT 16 News
Domain
wrpt16
Notes
Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News.
WTOE 5 News
WTOE 5 News
Name
WTOE 5 News
Domain
wtoe5news
Status
Defunct
Notes
Original source of false claim that Pope Francis had endorsed Donald Trump in 2016.
| Name | Domain | Status | Notes | Sources |
| 16WMPO | 16WMPO | Defunct | Impostor site, per PolitiFact. Likely part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | |
| alynews | alynews | Defunct | Part of a network that posted a false story that there was a sequel to the movie Step Brothers in the works in 2016. Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | |
| channel16news | channel16news | Defunct | Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | |
| channel17news | channel17news | Defunct | Likely part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | |
| Channel 18 News | Channel18News | Impostor site, per PolitiFact. Likely part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | ||
| clancyreport | clancyreport | Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | ||
| Daily News 10 | DailyNews10 | Impostor site, per PolitiFact. Likely part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | ||
| Daily News 11 | dailynews11 | Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | ||
| Daily News 5 | DailyNews5 | Impostor site, per PolitiFact. Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | ||
| Headline Brief | headlinebrief | Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | ||
| km8news | km8news | Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | ||
| KMT 11 News | kmt11 | Defunct | Falsely reports celebrity appearances and filming locations in random local towns. Before the website went down, it referred to itself as a "fantasy news website". Likely part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | |
| knp7 | kp11 | Defunct | Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | |
| kspm33 | kspm33 | Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | ||
| KUPR7 | kupr7 | Likely part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | ||
| ky6news | ky6news | Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | ||
| KY12News | KY12News | Impostor site, per PolitiFact. Likely part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | ||
| KYPO6 | kypo6 | Defunct | Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | |
| Local 31 News | Local31News | Impostor site, per PolitiFact. Likely part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | ||
| localnews33 | localnews33 | Part of the same network as alynews | ||
| lopezreport | lopezreport | Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | ||
| maywoodpost | maywoodpost | Likely part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | ||
| mbynews | mbynews | Part of the same network as alynews | ||
| McKenzie Post | mckenziepost | Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | ||
| NewsDaily12 | NewsDaily12 | Impostor site, per PolitiFact. Likely part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | ||
| newsdaily27 | newsdaily27 | Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | ||
| oreillypost | oreillypost | Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | ||
| wcpm3 | wcpm3 | Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | ||
| wleb21 | wleb21 | Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | ||
| WRPT 16 News | wrpt16 | Part of the same network as WTOE 5 News. | ||
| WTOE 5 News | wtoe5news | Defunct | Original source of false claim that Pope Francis had endorsed Donald Trump in 2016. |
· Lists › Campaigns by individuals › Your News Wire
Neon Nettle
Neon Nettle
Name
Neon Nettle
Domain
neonnettle
Notes
Per FactCheck and PolitiFact. Stated by Snopes to be "interrelated" with NewsPunch and Your News Wire.
The People's Voice
(formerly NewsPunch and Your News Wire)
The People's Voice
(formerly NewsPunch and Your News Wire)
Name
The People's Voice
(formerly NewsPunch and Your News Wire)
Domain
thepeoplesvoice
Status
Active
Notes
Founded by Sean Adl-Tabatabai and Sinclair Treadway in 2014. It has published fake stories, such as "claims that the Queen had threatened to abdicate if the UK voted against Brexit." Its name was changed to NewsPunch in 2018 and The People's Voice in 2023.
Your News Wire
Your News Wire
Name
Your News Wire
Domain
yournewswire
Notes
Former name for The People's Voice.
| Name | Domain | Status | Notes | Sources |
| Neon Nettle | neonnettle | Per FactCheck and PolitiFact. Stated by Snopes to be "interrelated" with NewsPunch and Your News Wire. | ||
| The People's Voice (formerly NewsPunch and Your News Wire) | thepeoplesvoice | Active | Founded by Sean Adl-Tabatabai and Sinclair Treadway in 2014. It has published fake stories, such as "claims that the Queen had threatened to abdicate if the UK voted against Brexit." Its name was changed to NewsPunch in 2018 and The People's Voice in 2023. | |
| Your News Wire | yournewswire | Former name for The People's Voice. |
References
- The New York Timeshttp://www.businessinsider.com/nytimescomco-posts-fake-news-articles-pretending-to-be-the-new-york-times-2015-6
- NBC Newshttps://www.nbcnews.com/news/n687226
- Burned After Reading: Endless Mayfly's Ephemeral Disinformation Campaignhttps://citizenlab.ca/2019/05/burned-after-reading-endless-mayflys-ephemeral-disinformation-campaign/
- The Daily Beasthttp://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/08/06/how-russia-dominates-your-twitter-feed-to-promote-lies-and-trump-too.html
- Snopeshttp://www.snopes.com/2016/01/14/fake-news-sites/
- Deutsche Wellehttp://www.dw.com/en/divide-europe-european-lawmakers-warn-of-russian-propaganda/a-36016836
- Business Insiderhttp://www.businessinsider.com/facebook-users-crowdsource-fake-news-document-2016-11
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/06/us/fake-news-partisan-republican-democrat.html
- Milwaukee Journal Sentinelhttp://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/politifactwisconsin/2016/12/13/politifacts-lie-year-2016-fake-news/95395008/
- "Trolls for Sale in the World's Social Media Capital"https://www.asiaglobalonline.hku.hk/philippines-internet-trolls-social-media-duterte/
- Miami New Timeshttp://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/theres-reportedly-a-gigantic-fakenews-operation-run-from-miami-and-its-not-new-times-9173747
- Buzzfeed Newshttps://www.buzzfeed.com/craigsilverman/how-the-hyperpartisan-sausage-is-made
- The Washington Posthttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/11/14/denzel-washington-endorsed-trump-according-to-americanews-breitbartt-usanewshome-and-facebook/
- BuzzFeed Newshttps://web.archive.org/web/20180730043759/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/craigsilverman/hyperpartisan-conservative-facebook-page-india
- "WP Company LLC v. Jestin Coler / DisInfoMedia Inc - Claim Number: FA1509001636671"http://www.adrforum.com/Domaindecisions/1636671.htm
- All Things Consideredhttps://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2016/11/23/503146770/npr-finds-the-head-of-a-covert-fake-news-operation-in-the-suburbs
- Columbia Journalism Reviewhttps://www.cjr.org/analysis/how_fake_news_sites_frequently_trick_big-time_journalists.php
- PolitiFacthttp://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/nov/17/blog-posting/no-someone-wasnt-paid-3500-protest-donald-trump-it/
- Poynterhttps://web.archive.org/web/20221007184151/https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2017/weeks-after-his-death-most-of-paul-horner%c2%92s-fake-news-sites-are-down-so-what%c2%92s-left/
- Lead Storieshttps://web.archive.org/web/20231225024431/https://leadstories.com/hoax-alert/2017/09/fake-news-king-paul-horner-launches-new-website-named-my-phoenix-daily.html