Beware of viral 'one twelve' hoax. Saying that to Siri will call emergency services | Fact check
The claim: iPhone users can get a free crisis loan by saying 'one twelve' to Siri
A Dec. 4 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) claims iPhone users can receive financial assistance simply by giving Siri a command.
“If you have an iPhone say ‘one twelve’ to Siri and you’ll be given a crisis loan that you don’t have to pay back,” reads the post. “Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself!”
It received more than 80 shares in two days. Social media posts encouraging iPhone users to make the command received tens of thousands of interactions on platforms including Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
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Our rating: False
The phone number 112 is a 911 equivalent in various countries, and saying it prompts iPhones to call emergency services. Making a false 911 call is a crime.
Prank 911 calls can lead to jail time, fines
Saying "one twelve" on an iPhone brings up a dialog where the user has three seconds before Siri calls 911, as Paste BN confirmed.
An array of countries, including the U.K., France and Germany, use the number for emergency services, according to a Department of State document with guidance for accessing such services abroad. The Netherlands’ government website also says the number is solely for emergencies and that prank calls are illegal and dangerous.
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Penalties for making false 911 calls vary by state in the U.S. In Texas, they can lead to up to a year in jail and a $4,000 fine, KDAF-TV reported.
A Virginia law that went into effect in July made making a false 911 call a Class 1 misdemeanor, though severe cases could result in a Class 5 felony, as reported by WCAV-TV in Charlottesville, Virginia.
False claims about dialing 112 in the U.S. have circulated for at least a decade, with some prior posts falsely claiming it was for highway emergencies.
The Facebook user who shared the claim did not offer evidence of its legitimacy when reached by Paste BN.
Our fact-check sources:
- Department of State, accessed Dec. 6, 911 Abroad
- Government of the Netherlands, accessed Dec. 6, What happens if I accidentally call 112?
- KDAF-TV, Dec. 5, Beware of new iPhone “one twelve” social media trend
- WCAV-TV, June 27, New laws taking effect in Virginia on July 1
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