Windsor police are warning of a new online scam using “missing person or pet” posts.
“We are aware of a new social media scam targeting our community,” Windsor Police Service said in a statement Friday.
An account posts what appears to be a plea about a missing person or a missing pet and then asks people to share the post to spread the word.
Once the post has been shared widely, the scammer edits the original post to ask for money.
The extensive sharing gives the post more credibility, making it look less like a scam, luring friends and family of anyone who shared the original post to donate money to the scam, according to police.
Anyone considering sharing information about a missing person or pet is advised to first verify the profile of the person posting by checking the person’s account profile for the number of friends they have, personal photos shared and other signs of authenticity.
Then scrutinize comments on the post.
If comments heavily promote the post after it’s been edited or claim successful donations, be wary that it may be a scam, police said.
And finally, check the Windsor Police Service or local news outlets social media sites — including the Windsor Star — for any reports or posts about a missing person for verification.
