The comments on the site of the article submitted here in some cases express doubt about the story, but in other cases suggest that the story is just one real example among many. On balance, I tend to think the story is a true story, as it is represented to be on that site.

Humor is in the eye of the beholder. I guess I'd rather laugh than cry about such a story, but best of all, I'd like to know (as I have already asked here) how to keep such a thing from happening again.