COMPLETE STATIC READING EDITION

Fakes and forgeries

The World War III email, the Hawking photo, the fake client lists and the AI pictures

← Interactive guide and chronology · The Epstein Files hub: the story, the full timeline and every file · What people say ↓

The forgeries, checked

How each was caught.

The World War III email used the document numbers of a real 2014 email about an investment; Snopes found the original and showed the key words had been edited in. No such message exists in the library. [1][2]

The Hawking photo is in the files but was taken by a hotel pool, according to fact-checkers, and his family says the two women were carers who travelled with him. The 2024 “lists” copied the look of court filings without coming from any court. DW documented dozens of AI images of public figures with Epstein. [3][4][5][6]

What we can’t tell you. A real document can still be misread; checking the EFTA number is the first step, not the last.

The sources

  1. Snopes: Look out for alleged email in Epstein files about World War III, 6 Feb 2026 ↗

    Shows the screenshot was edited from a real 2014 email.

  2. Lead Stories: No email discussing WW3 planned for 8 February 2026 found in Epstein files, Feb 2026 ↗

    Second fact check.

  3. VRT NWS: Viral photo of Stephen Hawking was not taken on “Epstein’s island,” 27 Feb 2026 (Dutch) ↗

    Fact check tracing the bikini photo to a hotel pool and the women to his carers.

  4. CNN: The viral Stephen Hawking photo from the Epstein files, explained, 27 Feb 2026 ↗

    Video fact check.

  5. AP: Images made to look like court records circulate online amid Epstein document release, Jan 2024 ↗

    The fake “lists” that spread with the 2024 unsealing.

  6. DW: Fact check, AI fakes distort claims on Epstein files, 2026 ↗

    Survey of AI-generated images passed off as file photos.

Why fakes do damage

They help the powerful.

Every debunked fake gives people who appear in real documents a way to say it is all lies. Survivors’ lawyers and researchers on all sides have asked readers to share only items with a verifiable source. That is why every claim on this site links its evidence. [1][2]

What we can’t tell you. Fact-checkers make mistakes too; their findings are linked so you can check them.

The sources

  1. AP: Images made to look like court records circulate online amid Epstein document release, Jan 2024 ↗

    The fake “lists” that spread with the 2024 unsealing.

  2. DW: Fact check, AI fakes distort claims on Epstein files, 2026 ↗

    Survey of AI-generated images passed off as file photos.

WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT THIS FILE

The claims, rated.

3 claims people make about this file, each rated documented, partly true, disputed, unproven or false. Think a rating is wrong? Use Dispute or Support, or join the Discussion.

All 211 rated claims ↗

← The Epstein Files hub: the story, the full timeline and every file

Discussion

Comment, dispute or support a claim, submit a source or rate this page through a short Google Form. It asks you to sign in with Google so we know you are a real person; your email is never shown. Nothing appears here until it has been reviewed. Conversation on X tagged #AIFiles #AIFilesEpstein shows up below after the daily refresh.

CommentSubmit a sourceRate this pageStart a discussion on XFull forum topicSee all disputesFollow updates (Google Group)

Reader comments

Approved reader comments and ratings are shown on the interactive edition. This plain reading edition does not load them.

On X

This plain reading edition does not load posts. You can read this subject’s threads on the forum: Forum: #AIFilesEpstein.

Reader comments are shown only after review, and rows removed from the form’s sheet disappear at the next refresh. X posts are a read-only daily snapshot; posts deleted or made private there are removed at the next refresh. Inclusion is not endorsement. A submitted source stays pending review until a page update says otherwise.