False accusations stats seem to widely vary both by study and geographical location. Kanin found 40% in his study. McDowell reported 60% in his U.S. Navy survey. Perhaps you remember the tv film Tailhook about a female navy flyer who claimed to have been sexually assaulted. Hasn't been on in a while largely due to the fact she later admitted to lying so that her fiancé would know she had engaged consensually. She was able to destroy the careers of several senior officers with her falsehood.

It is suspected the figures given by the Globe, which have been around for ages, reflect Susan Brownmiller's quoting F.B.I. stats. The F.B.I. does not track sexual assaults unless there is a federal aspect.