Buckeye police warn viral Facebook posts claiming officer is missing are a 'scam'

Yahoo

31-03-2025

Police are warning the public about an online scam that falsely claims a police officer has gone missing, saying social media users should 'think twice' before clicking any suspicious links or providing personal information.
Police pointed to a post in a local Buckeye Facebook group that claimed a female police officer 'has gone missing' from Buckeye 'and the authorities are seeking assistance in locating her.'
'This is a scam. Be suspicious of any post like this that lacks specific details like time, location or police contact info, and always think twice before clicking suspicious links or providing banking info,' Buckeye police said in a social media post.
The officer pictured in the post is Katie Cunningham, a sergeant with Montana's Great Falls Police Department. Cunningham is not missing, her employer said online, pointing to a similar misleading post in a Michigan Facebook group.
'We just spoke to her, and she is alive and well,' the Great Falls Police Department wrote.
'When Cunningham sent her husband the screenshot, he asked if there is a reward,' the department continued, adding a laughing emoji.
There are several errors in the post that helped identify the post as a scam, Great Falls police said. For example, Cunningham is described as being 5 feet 9 inches, but she's only 5 feet 3 inches in real life, police confirmed.
Plus, the photo used in the post is 10 years old, and her age is listed incorrectly they said.
Police said those who see the scam can warn others by leaving comments pointing out that it is fake.
'We're not sure what the scammers hope to gain by making posts like this. Please help set the record straight,' Great Falls police said.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Viral missing officer post is fake, Buckeye police say