**Police Warn Public of Scam as Widely Shared Missing Officer Post Confirmed Fake**
A social media post circulating widely on several local Facebook groups in Wales has been confirmed by police to be a scam, prompting warnings from the authorities and concerns from members of the public. The post, which first appeared in community groups within Pembrokeshire and Cardiff, claims a female police officer named Thelma Jakes has gone missing, with an urgent appeal for help in locating her.
Reports indicate the post has garnered significant attention, accumulating over 1,200 shares across different local Facebook pages, primarily in the Pembrokeshire region. When the same message was posted to a Cardiff group, it stated the officer was missing there as well, demonstrating that the post has been tailored to suit different areas and broaden its reach.
The message goes further to heighten emotions, alleging that the missing officer’s car was found abandoned with her young daughter still inside. The post concludes with a call for the community to “share the information,” stressing the importance of spreading it as widely as possible in the hope of finding the missing woman.
However, Dyfed-Powys Police have now spoken out to dispel the story, stating categorically that there is no record of such an incident either within their own force or any neighbouring police force. In an official statement shared on their Facebook pages dedicated to Pembrokeshire and surrounding regions, the force said: “We have been made aware of social media posts relating to an alleged missing police officer in the Pembrokeshire area. We can confirm that we have received no official report from any other police force relating to this individual and believe the post to be a scam.”
South Wales Police have separately confirmed there are no outstanding female officers missing in the Cardiff area, countering the claims made on social media and offering further reassurance to the community. The statement from Dyfed-Powys Police also stresses the dangers of sharing unverified information, noting that such posts have the potential to spread rapidly and mislead thousands of people.
Observers have pointed out that posts like these are often used by scammers to boost page engagement or possibly direct users to further malicious content. The emotionally charged nature of the post, paired with a purported crisis involving an authority figure, is likely to prompt higher levels of sharing and resharing among well-meaning residents.
Police are urging residents to be vigilant and to avoid circulating unconfirmed reports, as misinformation can undermine the public’s trust in genuine police appeals and cause unnecessary distress. Moreover, widespread sharing of false information may also lead to the police being inundated with misplaced concern, distracting from their day-to-day work and potentially hindering responses to real emergencies.
Reflecting on the impact of such scams, experts warn that the pressure to respond quickly to emotionally compelling claims is part of what makes these hoaxes successful. Members of the public are reminded to always check the official social media accounts or websites of police forces for confirmation of such incidents before engaging with or sharing such content.
As digital platforms continue to be a vital tool for public information, both the police and technology experts emphasise the importance of developing a more sceptical eye towards stories that seem designed to provoke an urgent and emotional reaction. For those who are unsure about the legitimacy of a post, authorities recommend contacting the local police force directly for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
In light of this incident, officers are encouraging everyone to exercise caution when engaging with social media posts, particularly those which call for widespread sharing. The message from police is clear: do not share unverified posts that may be scams, and always look to credible sources for the truth.