Yeah, but truth doesn't matter in journalism anyway* - never let it get in the way of a good story. By extension: just go on believing the spam! Heartless teacher!

(*Back in my news agency days, I wrote a story refuting a false claim that Gorbachev had resigned. Walked into the pub the next day and was informed of the opposite. When I asked for their source, the drinkers showed me my own article on the front page of a national newspaper. They had read the headline, let their imaginations turn it around, ignored the rest.)