BRISTOL TOWNSHIP, Pa. - Police in Bristol Township are warning residents about a recent uptick in fake social media posts involving missing or lost children, and a man terrorizing the area.
"Please do not engage," the department said in their own Facebook post earlier this week, along with screenshots of two "fake" posts from local community groups.
One showed photos of a bruised boy said to be 2–3 years old, and found in Croydon.
"Officers have the child safe at the police station, but we have no idea where he lives. No one has called in looking for him," the post read.
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The second fake post warns Croydon residents about an "armed and dangerous" man going door-to-door attacking people.
"He brutally assaulted a single mother with a knife, leaving her fighting for her life. He's also accused of stealing a car from an 84-year-old woman after offering to help her unload groceries."
On Wednesday, police alerted residents of a third fake post making the rounds on social media with a mother asking for the public's help to find her missing 12-year-old daughter.
Police say they are attempting to have the posts reported as a scam to Facebook, and removed.
"When our department identifies a fake news post being created, we will address the public on its validity," the department said.