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Email Predicting World War III Date in Epstein Files Proven Fake
A fabricated screenshot circulating on social media in early February falsely claimed that documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice related to Jeffrey Epstein contained an email predicting the start of World War III on February 8, 2026.
The image, shared widely across X (formerly Twitter), purported to show an email sent to Epstein from someone named James Heywood with the subject line “Off Grid Re: intro, potential angel investmentt app (nuclear).” The fake message contained the alarming text: “We need to discuss ww3 the investors want to know if we are still planning Feb 8 2026.”
A thorough investigation reveals this screenshot was digitally manipulated. The document reference numbers visible in the bottom right corner of the image—”EFTA_R1_00353105″ and “EFTA01914490″—correspond to an actual email in the DOJ’s Epstein Library, but with significantly different content.
The authentic email, sent by Heywood on July 17, 2014, had nothing to do with world wars or future predictions. Its genuine subject line read: “Off Grid Re: Intro, potential angel investment opp (microbiome)” and contained mundane content about Heywood being on vacation until July 29 and attempting to be “off grid.”
Several discrepancies between the authentic document and the manipulated version are evident upon comparison. The original email mentioned nothing about “ww3” or any 2026 date. Other alterations include changing the send date from 2014 to 2018, altering the parenthetical term from “microbiome” to “nuclear,” and modifying punctuation and formatting details.
Digital forensic analysis suggests someone used the authentic email as a template, overlaying new text to create the alarming, but entirely fictional, content about World War III. The fabrication includes several telltale editing errors, including the misspelling “investmentt” in the subject line and inconsistencies in formatting compared to genuine DOJ documents.
A comprehensive search of the entire DOJ Epstein files database for terms like “James Heywood,” “Rachael Haynes,” and “ww3” confirms that no authentic documents contain any mention of World War III or planning for a future global conflict.
While the DOJ has released thousands of pages of documents related to Epstein’s criminal activities following his 2019 death in prison, these documents primarily focus on his sex trafficking operation and associations with high-profile individuals. The fabricated screenshot appears designed to capitalize on public interest in the Epstein files by injecting fictional geopolitical conspiracy theories.
This false claim joins numerous other debunked rumors related to the Epstein document releases, highlighting the ongoing challenge of misinformation surrounding high-profile legal cases. Social media platforms continue to struggle with the rapid spread of digitally altered “evidence” that can reach millions of users before fact-checkers can verify authenticity.
Authorities have not commented specifically on this fabrication, but cybersecurity experts warn that manipulated documents related to high-profile cases are increasingly sophisticated and can quickly gain traction among audiences already primed to believe conspiracy narratives.
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10 Comments
Glad to see this alleged email prediction was quickly debunked. In these times of heightened tensions, it’s critical that we rely on credible, fact-based information rather than unsubstantiated claims, especially around sensitive national security issues.
Absolutely. Spreading unverified information, especially related to potential conflicts, is irresponsible and can cause unnecessary fear and panic. Fact-checking is essential to maintaining public trust.
This sounds like a classic case of misinformation being spread online. Fact-checking is so important these days to avoid falling for fake news. I’m glad the investigators were able to debunk this claim.
Yes, the investigation clearly shows this was a digitally manipulated image, not a real Epstein document. We have to be very careful about verifying claims, especially around sensitive topics like this.
While the prospect of World War III is alarming, this email appears to be completely fabricated. I’m curious to know more about the actual contents of the Epstein files and what they reveal, if anything, about potential geopolitical risks.
The fact that the document numbers correspond to a different, mundane email is a clear sign that this screenshot was manipulated. I agree, we should focus on verifying the real information in the Epstein files.
This is a good reminder to be extremely cautious about sensational claims circulating online, especially around high-profile cases like the Epstein investigation. I appreciate the diligent work to verify the authenticity of this email and set the record straight.
Agreed. In the age of social media, it’s so easy for misinformation to spread rapidly. Kudos to the investigators for taking the time to thoroughly debunk this fake screenshot and provide the facts.
Interesting but concerning if true. I hope this alleged email is just a hoax and not a real prediction of conflict. We should be wary of unverified claims, especially around such a serious topic.
Agreed, this appears to be a fabricated screenshot. The authentic email seems to be about a mundane business proposal, not anything related to predictions of war.