Latest news with #CarolynLynch
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Yahoo
Arvada police warn of missing officer scam as online post gains momentum
DENVER (KDVR) — The Arvada Police Department is warning residents not to fall for an online post that it is calling a scam. The post was made in an Arvada neighbors Facebook group and shows images of a smiling female officer and a black Dodge vehicle with multiple gunshot holes through the windshield. The post names the officer as Carolyn Lynch, 27, and says she has gone missing. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox The post includes other disturbing details, involving a purported daughter who was found inside an allegedly abandoned vehicle, and says that a 'Silver Alert' has been issued. Silver Alerts are issued for missing persons, especially older adult citizens with Alzheimer's disease, dementia or other mental disabilities. Colorado does not use the term Silver Alert and will instead issue a Missing Senior Citizen Alert, a Missing Persons with Developmental Disabilities Alert, Medina Alert, Blue Alert, Endangered/missing/media Alert or AMBER Alert. The Arvada Police Department took to social media to combat the misinformation. 'Needless to say, this is a scam,' the department stated. 'If you see this, please report the post and ask the page administrators to remove immediately.' A reverse image search of the officer's photo shows dozens of posts saying the officer is associated with departments in Texas, Georgia, Alabama and other states. A reverse image search of the vehicle connects it to November 2018 media reports in Florida. It's unclear what the person behind the post is hoping to gain. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
Vandalia Police warn of missing officer scam
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — A new scam may convince you that an officer has gone missing. The Vandalia Police Department is warning people about a missing officer scam that purports that an officer is missing and may be in danger. The department referenced a post from an account called 'Vandalia Online Sales and Trading,' which reported that an officer named 'Carolyn Lynch' was missing. The scam includes a fake Facebook account posting false information like this to gain traction and followers. The account will then continue to post fraudulent activity in the form of missing children reports, suspects on surveillance and other items that are frequently shared. The Vandalia Police Department advises that you use an image search to verify the validity of the image included in a fraudulent post like the one mentioned prior. Most departments will post officially on their social media platforms if a high profile incident (ex: missing person) occurs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
What you should know about the missing officer Facebook scam
Have you seen a Facebook post about a missing officer named Carolyn Lynch? [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] If so, Vandalia Police say the information is false and a scam, according to a social media post. A post circulating on Facebook claims that an officer named Carolyn Lynch has gone missing and urges users to spread the word. 'The accounts will then be used to push out other scams and links involved in fraudulent activity,' the department said. 'These posts will be in the form of missing children, suspects on surveillance, cutting off catalytic converters, or other items which people share frequently.' TRENDING STORIES: School district pays tribute to co-worker killed in I-75 weekend crash Multiple people injured after mass shooting at Arizona restaurant Former Ohio college athlete 'awake, alert' after falling from stands at MLB game Vandalia Police shared a photo on social media that appeared on the 'Vandalia Online Sales & Trading' Facebook Public Group. It has since been removed. The department said that if you see a similar post, you can put the image into Google Lens or a reverse photo search. The post usually will return with information about it being false. The department added that if there was a missing person, they would make an official post on their Facebook page. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
What the Tech: Missing officer Facebook scam
Have you recently seen a Facebook post about a missing police officer named Carolyn Lynch? It's likely been shared by well-meaning friends and family, and it certainly pulls at the heartstrings. However, before you hit that 'share' button, there's something important you need to know: it's fake. A post circulating on Facebook claims an officer named Carolyn Lynch has gone missing and urges users to spread the word. It appears urgent and genuine, but it's a classic example of what's known as 'engagement bait'—posts designed to get you to like, comment, and share without a second thought. The message emphasizes the ease of sharing, saying 'it takes just two seconds,' and that's precisely the point. These posts aren't isolated incidents. Variations have popped up nationwide, naming different police departments: Durham, North Carolina, Citrus County, Florida, Birmingham, Alabama, Orange, Texas, and Girard, Ohio. Each post follows the same script, spreading rapidly through social media. So, how can you tell it's a scam? There are several red flags. First, a quick Google search reveals no reports of a missing officer named Carolyn Lynch from any credible news source. Second, the posts often originate from newly created Facebook profiles, like one from an account named 'Sandra' that's only a few days old. Even the profile picture can be traced back to a free stock photo library. Another key indicator is that the comments sections are often closed, preventing people from calling out the hoax. But what's the actual scam? There are no direct links asking for money or downloads. The primary goal appears to be building a list of Facebook users who are easily tricked. Scammers might be targeting those who share these posts, planning to hit them with more dangerous scams or phishing attempts later. It's similar to the 'OMG it works' posts that lead to fake offers and malicious links. These scammers also infiltrate Buy and Sell Facebook groups due to their easy access, and they request to join personal Facebook pages as well. To protect yourself, always verify missing person posts before sharing. Do a quick Google search to confirm the information. If something seems suspicious, resist the urge to share and report it to Facebook instead. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
No, a Salina police officer is not missing
SALINA, Kan. (KSNW) — A post on social media is claiming a Salina Police officer is missing. The Salina Police Department confirms to KSN that the post is fake. The post claims that a female police officer identified as 27-year-old Carolyn Lynch is missing, and her daughter was found alone in her abandoned car. A quick internet search shows that this is a scam post circulating across the country. The officer featured in the post is actually a police officer with the Lodi, California, Police Department. Similar posts with different names, weights, and photos have been circulating for several years. Black Hills Energy seeks $17.2M rate increase in Kansas The goal of the scam is to accumulate a large number of views, likes, and shares before the original poster changes it to a link that leads to a scam or other malicious content, which may attempt to gather personal or financial information or install malware on a computer. Always be cautious when sharing or engaging with posts, unless you are sure they are genuine. A quick internet search can often save you from participating in or having your information compromised. You can use tools like Google Lens, Google Image Search, or TinEye to verify the source of an image online. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
