Top Ten Urban Legends of 2006

Urban legends are stories with a little basis in fact, that are often circulated by people who believe them to be true. Often, people share these stories with the disclaimer that they really happened to a "friend of a friend". Some urban legends turn out to be true, while some are distorted, sensationalized or exaggerated versions of the truth. Urban legends have been circulated in the past by newspapers or word of mouth, but more recently, the internet has been a major factor in their spread. Here are the top urban legends of 2006.

1. Stolen UPS uniforms being used by terrorists

This urban legend, usually circulated by e-mail says that hundreds of UPS uniforms were auctioned off on e-bay and will be used by terrorists to impersonate delivery people. Research of e-Bay's records showed that a few sales of UPS uniforms did happen. The FBI investigated the transactions and they were found to have no terrorist connection.

2. Entering your PIN number backwards at an ATM will summon the police

This urban legend gives comfort those who often use their ATM machines in dark alleys late at night with suspicious characters roaming nearby. According to the legend, you can enter your pin number backwards and the police will be notified and come to your rescue should you be threatened to withdraw all your money at weapon-point. While the technology does exist for this kind of "panic" response, it has not been put into use because of problems with ATM numbers that are the same forwards as they are backwards. These palindrome PIN numbers, like 3443 would be impossible to enter backwards.

3. Life is Beautiful computer virus

This supposed computer virus has also been called "Life is Wonderful" or "Everything is Beautiful" and is a hoax. There is no computer virus by any of these names.

4. Target does not support Vetrans