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Farewell texts sent to missing ferry students’ families were fake

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Social Links for Natalie O'Neill
Published April 18, 2014, 12:31 p.m. ET
Buddhists pray in Busan, South Korea, on April 18 for the safe return of missing passengers who were on the ferry that capsized. REUTERS/Yonhap
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South Korean rescue team members try to rescue passengers trapped in the ferry.
South Korean rescue team members try to save passengers trapped in the ferry. AP
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South Korean rescue team members try to rescue passengers trapped in the ferry.
South Korean Navy personnel try to search missing passengers aboard the sunken ferry Sewol in the water off the southern coast near Jindo, South Korea, Friday, April 18, 2014. Investigations… AP
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South Korean Navy personnel work on buoys to mark the sunken ferry boat.
South Korean navy personnel work on buoys to mark the sunken ferry. AP
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South Korean Navy's Ship Salvage Unit (SSU) members work to prepare a salvage lifting air bag.
The South Korean navy’s ship salvage unit prepares an air bag. EPA
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A photo from the South Korean Coast Guard shows ferry Sewol's captain Lee Jun-Seok (third right) receiving help from maritime policemen to escape the sinking ferry.
A South Korean coast guard photo shows the ferry’s captain, Lee Joon-Seok (third from right), receiving help from maritime police to escape the sinking craft. EPA
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South Korea ferry sinking
epa04171090 South Korean Navy’s Ship Salvage Unit (SSU) members prepare a salvage lifting air bag at the site of a ferry sinking off Jindo Island in the southwestern province of…
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South Korea ferry sinking
epa04171092 South Korean Navy’s Ship Salvage Unit (SSU) members prepare a salvage lifting air bag at the site of a ferry sinking off Jindo Island in the southwestern province of…
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TOPSHOTS-SKOREA-ACCIDENT-BOAT
A woman weeps at a gymnasium used as a gathering point for relatives of missing passengers aboard the capsized ferry. Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images
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South Korea rescuers work to find missing ferry boat passengers.
South Korea rescuers work to find missing ferry passengers. EPA
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South Korea rescuers work to find missing ferry boat passengers.
epa04171101 South Korean Navy’s Ship Salvage Unit (SSU) frogmen work at the site of a ferry sinking off Jindo Island in the southwestern province of South Jeolla, South Korea, 18… EPA
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Nearly 300 people were still missing and at least 25 confirmed dead after a passenger ferry carrying hundreds of teenagers sank off the southern coast of South Korea on April 16.
epa04171116 A South Korean Navy’s Ship Salvage Unit (SSU) frogmen work to prepare a salvage lifting air bag at the site of a ferry sinking off Jindo Island in the… EPA
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A relative of a missing ferry boat passenger prays in Jindo.
A relative of a missing ferry passenger prays in Jindo. Zumapress.com
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A monk prays for the missing passengers.
A monk prays for the missing passengers. Zumapress.com
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south korea ship
The South Korean ferry sinks off Jindo Island. Reuters
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south korea
This photo taken at sea some 20 kilometres off the island of Byungpoong in Jindo on April 16, 2014 shows South Korea Coast Guard members rescuing some of the 477… Getty Images
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A maritime police helicopter rescues passengers.
A maritime police helicopter rescues passengers. Reuters
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A passenger is rescued and hoisted onto a Coast Guard helicopter.
A passenger is hoisted onto a coast guard helicopter. AP
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The ferry was carrying approximately 470 passengers.
The ferry was carrying 475 passengers. Getty IMages
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south korea ship
This photo taken at sea some 20 kilometres off the island of Byungpoong in Jindo on April 16, 2014 shows a helicopter heading to aid 477 passengers and crew aboard… Getty Images
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Rescued passengers are brought onto land.
Rescued passengers are brought onto land. Getty Images
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A major rescue effort is under way, involving dozens of ships and helicopters. Almost 300 people remain unaccounted for.
The rescue effort involved dozens of ships and helicopters. Getty Images
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A rescued girl being brought onto land.
This photo taken on April 16, 2014 shows a rescued girl (C) being brought onto land in Jindo after a South Korean ferry carrying 477 passengers and crew capsized on… Getty Images
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The sunken South Korea ferry off the coast of Jindo Island.
JINDO-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – APRIL 16: In this handout image provided by the Republic of Korea Coast Guard, a passenger ferry sinks off the coast of Jindo Island on April… Getty Images
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Members of the Republic of Korea Coast Guard.
Coast guard members rescue passengers. Getty Images
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Coast Guard members work to rescue passengers.
This photo taken at sea some 20 kilometres off the island of Byungpoong in Jindo on April 16, 2014 shows South Korea Coast Guard members in helicopters trying to rescue… Getty Images
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korea ship
This aerial photo taken at sea some 20 kilometres off the island of Byungpoong in Jindo on April 16, 2014 shows debris floating next to a South Korean ferry (C)… Getty Images
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The South Korean passenger ship “Sewol” shown here in an undated photo.
The South Korean passenger ferry Sewol in an undated photo. Reuters
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Ambulances wait for rescued passengers.
Ambulances wait for rescued passengers. AP
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An aerial view of the sinking passenger ferry. Getty Images
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A passenger is carried onshore by police and rescue teams
A passenger is carried onshore by police and rescue teams. AP
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This photo taken on April 16, 2014 shows people wrapped in blankets reacting as they are brought onto land in Jindo after a South Korean ferry carrying 477 passengers and… Getty Images
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korea ship
JINDO-GUN, SOUTH KOREA – APRIL 16: In this handout image provided by the Republic of Korea Coast Guard, the rescue work by members of the Republic of Korea Coast Guard… Getty Images
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korea ship
This photo taken at sea some 20 kilometres off the island of Byungpoong in Jindo on April 16, 2014 shows coast guard members searching for passengers near a South Korean… Getty Images
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People watch news coverage of the sinking passenger ship at the Seoul Railway Station.
People watch news coverage of the sinking passenger ship at the Seoul railway station. AP
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A rescued passenger is taken to an ambulance.
A rescued passenger is taken to an ambulance. AP
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A mother finds her son at the gymnasium where rescued passengers were brought.
A mother finds her son at the gymnasium where rescued passengers were brought. Reuters
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SKOREA-ACCIDENT-BOAT
This photo taken at sea some 20 kilometres off the island of Byungpoong in Jindo on April 16, 2014 shows coast guard members searching for passengers near a South Korean…
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A list of survivors name is posted at a gymnasium.
A list of survivors’ names is posted at the gymnasium. Reuters
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A mother searches for her child's name.
A mother searches for her child’s name. AP
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A mother reacts after finding her sons's name on the survivor's list.
A mother reacts after finding her son’s name on the survivors list. Reuters
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Maritime police search for missing passengers near the South Korean ferry “Sewol” which sank at the sea off Jindo April 16, 2014. Almost 300 people were missing after a ferry… Reuters
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Parents search for their children's name from the list of survivors.
Parents search for their children’s names on the list of survivors. AP