Science is just refusing to believe something until you’ve tested it. Try that with rumors.

Nothing about the method is complicated, and no laboratory owns it. It amounts to treating a claim as unconfirmed until something independent supports it, which is a habit anybody can run. Rumors survive because they get repeated rather than checked, and each repetition makes them feel more established. None of that process involves any evidence at all.

Next time something goes around, ask who saw it directly and hold off on passing it along. You do not have to argue with anyone or announce that you are suspending judgment. Just stop being one of the repetitions, which is where most of the damage happens.