WARNING: Oklahomans Need To Know About This Recent Scam

Before you click share on another post about the "missing Johnathan Diller" in Oklahoma, you need to know that the post and information is fake. Although the scam has recently been spotted in Oklahoma, it's been running for quite some time and needs to stop.

There's No Johnathan Diller Missing in Oklahoma

Recently, folks in OKlahoma have been seeing and sharing a Facebook post, telling people to look out for a missing Police Officer named Johnathan Diller. The post includes a photo of a man with a toddler, dressed in winter clothing. In the post, they claim that "Diller" is in 'EXTREME danger' and in need of medical assistance.

In reality, the man in the picture was a former New York Police Officer who unfortunately lost his life in the line of duty.

People all over the state have been sharing the post for the past few days and some folks have tried to help clear up the misinformation by responding in comments and some of their own posts. But not everyone can easily spot a scam.

What Should You Do If You See The Post?

The scammers are looking for credibility when they make posts like these to help generate ad revenue for themselves. So, the best thing you should do when you see this post is not engage. Don't comment, share, or spread the word about it. Report the post to admins if you spot it in a group. If you see a friend sharing the post, encourage them to take it down by personally messaging them.

How Do You Know It's Scam Post?

This particular post has actually been circulating in other states for several weeks and has been confirmed to be false. This one, like other scam posts online, have a few red flags that can help alert someone that it isn't real:

• Including a sense of urgency, that you need to "act now"
• Asks you to share
• Doesn't come from a reliable source

Some scam posts will ask you to send money for a found person or child - DO NOT send any.

Instead Of Clicking Share, Click To Verify

If you aren't sure about how credible the post is, take a few steps to make sure it's legitimate, like checking out the profile of the person who made the post. If you notice that their account was recently made, or it's full of the same types of posts, it's likely that they're not a legitimate user.

Another way you can verify if someone is really missing in your area is to check with your trusted sources. Your local police department page may actually make the post, or local news media may have information released if something is actually happening.

One major indicator if someone is legitimately missing or in danger are the alerts that come through your phone. These alerts are sent directly from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). If there isn't an alert for someone recently missing, there's a great chance that the post isn't real.