The whole AIM scandal is a hoax. Here. It's not any more true than the stuff saying in 2006, AOL is going to rid of messaging, or that Yahoo is making free users pay.
If you ever see something that seems too outrageous to be true, it probably is. Granted, there's a lot of scandal stories that really did happen - a list for free ice cream back in the 50's or something turned out to be a draft list in real life, to name one example. However, a couple's dog was never mistaken for food at an Asian restauraunt, and there is not a young dying of a rare disease who will only get money if 100 people recieve and forward an email. (I don't even know what sort of person would make up a story like that).
Am I saying every bad thing that was said to have happened is a hoax, and even a Government cover up? Absolutely not. A lot of sick things have happened in this world. What I am saying is... excersise some caution when you see these things.