Nope, from the language the "believers" use, it seems very likely that it was set up as a joke by some friends. They pretend they believe in it because it's funny, and it is. Like the turtle thing, that's clearly a reference to a native american legend, of a tribe of which there are few living members (I think there's none, actually). I would say it is probably meant to be a mockery of conspiracy theories, or just a joke. Either way, it's not serious.