If it is a hoax, then all the small reloading component businesses who sell government auction purchased brass are falling for it.
Every supplier of once fired brass is either out, or has ‘suspended sales’ on their remaining stock. Basically overnight all sources of the brass have dried up.
I just ordered 1000 pieces of new Winchester .223 brass from Cabelas, they have lot in stock at good prices(for new brass).
Here’s a link to a list of once fired brass sellers...most of them have none, the ones that do are sitting on it.
http://forum.pafoa.org/ammunition-reloading-25/22608-list-places-sell-once-fired-brass.html
Sorry for the crazy paragraphs, I always forget that what is a paragraph in my little posting box isn’t always a paragraph once posted.