The viral hoax presents itself as a video tribute to Atkinson from “FOX BREAKING NEWS,” with his birth and alleged death dates featured next to the preview image.
Users who click the video link will be redirected to a falsified security page prompting them to dial a phone number, according to reports. Anyone who calls the number will be asked to provide their credit card information in order to purchase a so-called software fix, which will actually riddle the targeted computer with viruses.The hoax video appears to have resurfaced from July of 2017, when it first sparked fears that Atkinson had died. The video caption claims Atkinson was killed in a car crash.