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Rumours have been flying that Samsung, stung by the billion-dollar fine slapped upon it after losing a lawsuit with Apple, decided to service the debt in 5-cent coins, delivered in dump trucks.

The false claim was quickly de-bunked by hoax-busting websites (and thoroughly deconstructed by the Guardian newspaper, here), but not before hundreds of thousands of viewers had seen the story on news websites and social media sites around the world.

In some cases, the story was accompanied by an image allegedly showing the transaction in place. The picture shows thousands of copper coins – not silver US nickels.

Meanwhile, Samsung’s true problems could be bigger than an expensive battle with Apple. This week the company was accused of human rights abuses by New York-based group China Labor Watch (CLW).

The investigation makes a number of serious accusations over the working conditions of Chinese factory workers employed by the company, including forced and unpaid overtime, underage workers and a lack of worker safety.

Apple was also the target of a similar campaign, published by CLW in June.