A video circulating online claims that a sanitation worker named Samuel saved a newborn baby from a garbage truck. According to the video, Samuel, a veteran worker with 25 years of experience, was running his usual early morning route when he heard a high pitched wail coming from the truck’s hopper.
According to the video’s description, Samuel reaches for the lever to compact the garbage when his partner suddenly shouts, “Sam, wait! I thought I heard something!” This is where the tension in the video builds. Samuel hears a thin, high pitched wail that doesn’t sound like a kitten or any usual street noise. His heart races as he scrambles to see the source of the sound, setting the stage for a supposedly dramatic rescue.
Then Samuel peering down into the hopper of the garbage truck. Inside a soaked duffel bag, wrapped in a stained towel, is a newborn baby. According to the narrative, Samuel, who is a grandfather, lifts the baby with surprising gentleness despite his rough and dirty hands. His partner calls 911 while Samuel cradles and comforts the child, whispering soothing words.
Paramedics appear shortly after, and the video presents this as a real moment where a sanitation worker saves a life in an unexpected situation.
The video does not show where or when the incident supposedly happened. There are no city names, street signs, or timestamps, which are usually present in real-life rescue videos.
The baby’s right hand appears to be missing a thumb for the first few seconds, and it doesn’t seem to be hidden behind the other fingers. Such errors are common in AI-generated videos.
The white and orange labels on the garbage truck are unreadable. From this camera distance, these words should be at least a little clear if the video were real.
A car in the background toward the end of the video looks blurred and unnatural. Visual inconsistencies like this are typical in AI-generated content, especially during complex movements.
The video’s sound, texture, and overall effect resemble AI-generated content, particularly videos made with tools like Sora AI. Slight blurring, unusual movement, and unnatural lighting are all common signs.
Despite the dramatic story, there is no coverage of this event in any news outlet. A real life baby rescue would almost certainly be reported by local or national media.
The Facebook account that posted the video, Dailystories, has a history of uploading AI-generated content. This pattern strengthens the suspicion that the Samuel video is also fabricated. Accounts that repeatedly post AI-generated or digitally manipulated content often produce videos designed to go viral, leveraging emotional storytelling and dramatic visuals to attract views and shares.
After examining the video closely, it is clear that the clip of Samuel saving a baby from a garbage truck is not real. The baby, the truck, and the entire scenario are digitally created, designed to look convincing while being entirely fictional. While the story of a sanitation worker heroically saving a child is compelling, in this case, it is purely AI-generated content.
This viral video serves as a reminder of the increasing sophistication of AI tools that can create realistic looking, emotionally charged videos. It also highlights the importance of verifying online content before sharing it, especially when it involves scenarios that are designed to trigger strong emotional responses.
Have you fallen for a hoax, bought a fake product? Report the site and warn others!
As the influence of the internet rises, so does the prevalence of online scams. There are fraudsters making all kinds of claims to trap victims online - from fake investment opportunities to online stores - and the internet allows them to operate from any part of the world with anonymity. The ability to spot online scams is an important skill to have as the virtual world is increasingly becoming a part of every facet of our lives. The below tips will help you identify the signs which can indicate that a website could be a scam. Common Sense: Too Good To Be True When looking for goods online, a great deal can be very enticing. A Gucci bag or a new iPhone for half the price? Who wouldn’t want to grab such a deal? Scammers know this too and try to take advantage of the fact. If an online deal looks too good to be true, think twice and double-check things. The easiest way to do this is to simply check out the same product at competing websites (that you trust). If the difference in prices is huge, it might be better to double-check the rest of the website. Check Out the Social Media Links Social media is a core part of ecommerce businesses these days and consumers often expect online shops to have a social media presence. Scammers know this and often insert logos of social media sites on their websites. Scratching beneath the surface often reveals this fu
Disclaimer: This article was originally published in 2018 and has been updated in October 2025 to reflect more current information, resources, and advice. Scams and recovery options continue to evolve, so always double-check with your bank, payment provider, or local consumer protection authority for the latest guidance. So the worst has come to pass - you realise you parted with your money too fast, and the site you used was a scam - what now? Well first of all, don’t despair!! If you think you have been scammed, the first port of call when having an issue is to simply ask for a refund. This is the first and easiest step to determine whether you are dealing with a genuine company or scammers. Sadly, getting your money back from a scammer is not as simple as just asking. If you are indeed dealing with scammers, the procedure (and chance) of getting your money back varies depending on the payment method you used. PayPal Debit card/Credit card Bank transfer Wire transfer Google Pay Bitcoin PayPal Good news: PayPal gives you strong protection. You can file a dispute within 180 days of your purchase. You can get a refund if: Your order never arrives, and the seller cannot provide proof of delivery. The scammer sends you something completely different (e.g., a controller instead of a PlayStation). The product condition was misrepresented (sold as new but arrives used). The item is missing undisclosed parts. The item is counterfeit. Start your claim directly through Pay