Once again, an ‘official’ warning by the police set social media alight the past few days, only for it to turn out to be a hoax.
A photograph of a notice by the police that is titled “Urgent message from SAPD” has been feverishly circulated on various social media platforms. The notice covers two warnings; one urging people not to pick up lost children and take them to the address where they supposedly live, as criminals will be waiting there and “will gang-rape women and girls and rob and kill men and boys”.
Also Read: Fear mongering social media post a hoax
The second warning refers to free key rings being handed out at fuel stations. According to the notice they contain tracking devices which will give the criminals an opportunity to follow you home.
Both these warnings have been doing the rounds for years and have even done the rounds overseas. Furthermore, there are some detail on the notice itself that should ring warning bells. Although the notice is in English, the Afrikaans abbreviation for the police service is used – SAPD instead of SAPS. At the bottom of the notice, the emblem of the Department of Social Development also appears, a government department which has nothing to do with the Police.
There are handy websites that can be used to check whether a warning or notice is a hoax, such as hoaxslayer.com or even thoselegends.blogspot.co.za.
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