If we had a nickel for every time false news broke about Steve Harvey’s death, we’d have three nickels – which isn’t a lot, but it’s strange that it happened three times. Earlier today, scrollers were shocked and saddened to see a NewsBreak article announcing that the comedian had died…except it’s not true. Additionally, people who clicked on the link reported that it was actually a spam or virus link. Oops!

The headline “Steve Harvey Passes Away Today: Remembering the Legacy of a Comedy Legend” quickly spread across social media and sparked an online meltdown as fans gave in to the knee-jerk reaction of hitting the share button without checking the message first. The article also claimed that Harvey died at age 56, when in fact he is 67 (and apparently still alive). This isn’t the first time the rumor mill has falsely “killed” Harvey. It’s not even the second time. For the comedian, it’s fake death number three.

Not only did this happen – let us emphasize, INCORRECT– The news spread like wildfire, but it could have potentially sparked the spread of something more nefarious. Many users reported that after clicking on the fake link, their devices displayed spam at best or malware (and viruses) at worst. The only real death knell here was apparently the virus protection on a large number of smartphones.

Scammers are notorious for using sensational headlines to elicit that “instant click” response. They know that if users take a second to think about what they see, they will leave the shady link and check the information elsewhere. That moment of thinking twice before clicking is the difference between having your device infected (and potentially having your data stolen) and carrying on like it’s just another Wednesday.

A quick refresher to protect yourself from similar schemes:

1. Don’t click on suspicious links. No matter how much the headline affects you, just don’t do it.
2. Check news about reputable outlets. If you don’t know the name of the news source associated with the article, navigate away and do a quick Google search to confirm the story.
3. Keep antivirus software up to date. Yes, running system updates can be a hassle, but dealing with a virus – or worse, replacing your device – is even worse.

Steve Harvey is a comedian. If he wants to destroy the internet, he’ll probably do it with another epic Family feud moment or a perfectly timed joke – not a fake obituary. Next time news of Harvey’s “death” breaks, check it again before you start grieving. History tells us that he’s probably still standing and probably rolling his eyes because we’re all so gullible.

We’re sure Steve Harvey appreciates the love shown to him this morning when the internet thought he was dead, but let’s keep the man alive – and learn to fact-check a story before jumping on one click questionable link.