Fact Check: Viral Facebook Post About Missing Police Officer Daniel Tomlinson Is a Hoax
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A viral Facebook post claiming that Police Officer Daniel Tomlinson is missing has been debunked as a scam. The post, which has circulated widely with variations in location, falsely states that Tomlinson went missing on March 28, 2025, and that his truck was found with his unconscious son inside. It further claims that a silver alert was issued for the officer, who is described as being in extreme danger and needing medical assistance. However, this story is entirely fabricated.
The Hoax Explained
The post is part of a common social media scam that exploits users’ emotions to spread misinformation. Similar posts have appeared in various locations, including Deadwood, Sioux Falls, Sarasota Springs, Scottsbluff, and Fort Rucker, with the city name altered to match local audiences. This tactic aims to make the hoax appear credible and relevant to specific communities.
Authorities have confirmed that there is no missing officer named Daniel Tomlinson in any of these locations. In fact, the real Daniel Tomlinson is an officer with Bartlesville PD and is neither missing nor the subject of a silver alert. This pattern of fake posts mirrors previous scams involving fabricated stories about missing persons, often using real names or images of unrelated individuals.
How the Scam Works
These posts typically use urgent language and emotional appeals to encourage users to share them widely. Once the post gains significant traction, scammers may edit its content to include phishing links or advertisements for fraudulent services like fake donation pages or rental listings. By interacting with these posts—whether by sharing or commenting—users inadvertently expose their personal information and friends list to scammers, who can use this data for account cloning or other malicious purposes.
Red Flags in the Post
- Lack of Verification: The post does not provide contact details for law enforcement or reference an official case file number.
- Generic Formatting: The same template has been used across multiple cities with only minor changes.
- Disabled Comments: Many scam posts disable comments to prevent users from flagging them as fake.
Impact of Fake Posts
These scams not only deceive well-meaning individuals but also undermine legitimate missing person cases. When fake posts flood social media, they create skepticism among users, making it harder for real alerts to gain visibility and support.
How to Protect Yourself
- Verify Before Sharing: Always check official law enforcement social media pages or websites for missing person alerts.
- Do a Reverse Image Search: Scammers often reuse photos from unrelated incidents.
- Report Suspicious Posts: Use Facebook’s reporting tools to flag scams.
- Avoid Interaction: Do not comment or share posts unless their authenticity is confirmed.
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