I think somebody has told me that someone has died and they haven’t

[gingerbits]

How do I find out if they have?

I think you need to give more info than that?

I think we need more context here.

Try google

I’m sorry?

Why do you only ‘think’ someone told you?

We need more context to judge OP.

How recently did it happen?

Family/friend/acquaintance- ask somebody else who knows them
Public figure- google

Death records, local newspapers, news coverage. Google the name and see what results turn up.

You mean how do you find out if someone has really died?

Death recordd

I was told at work that somebody had died while we were in lockdown. This colleague does not like me and I found it strange they announced that our mutual colleague was dead.

Nothing came out about it internally, no announcement.

I have since spoken to close friends of the supposedly dead colleague (about work) and offered them my condolences but have found them surprised to hear he is apparently dead. So I have been effectively breaking the news to them.

I have no idea what is going on

I also don't think it's the sort of thing that people would lie or 'joke' about really.

Nothing on google, nothing in the papers. It apparently happened 8 days ago

Can’t you try contacting your potentially dead colleague yourself? Or a manager?

How about you stop announcing it?

Do you have that message in writing?

Because if a potentially malicious rumour was going around my workplace that I was dead, I’d certainly want to know about it!

Why would they lie?

What the fuck

I am not announcing it. I am talking about work like normal to colleagues and offering my condolences to those who I know are his good friends. Two people. Neither knew he was dead. So I have of course stopped mentioning it

Why would it be in the papers or google? Most deaths aren't. It's a really really sick thing to lie or joke about and I literally can't think of a single reason why someone would do that, even if they don't like you.

@toomanyplants

How about you stop announcing it?

Exactly this! After 'announcing' it to one colleague who had no idea I think I'd have done a bit more research

What did the two friends say/do when you told them?

I didn’t announce it. See the context.

Have a quiet word with your manager. Ask them outright.