A scam involving a false report about a missing Jacksonville police officer has been circulating widely on social media, alarming local residents. The post claims that 27-year-old officer Kathleen Ballinger has gone missing, prompting many people in Jacksonville to share the misleading information. However, officials have quickly debunked the post as a hoax, urging the public to remain cautious about such rumors.
Capt. Christopher Funke of the Jacksonville Police Department addressed the fake news, stating, “I know all the officers here, and I immediately knew it was a scam.” He emphasized that one clear indicator of the post’s falsity was the uniform depicted in the image of the alleged missing officer. Funke confirmed that the uniform shown does not match the standard issue for Jacksonville police officers, further discrediting the post.
Local resident Elijah Hall expressed his concern about the widespread nature of the scam. “That false information is being put out there and so widespread in the community, which is very harmful,” Hall told WITN. He also noted that, like many others, he has been targeted by phone scams, adding to the sense of unease caused by this fraudulent post. “I have been approached by scammers,” Hall said, emphasizing the importance of verifying information before spreading it.
The Jacksonville Police Department also pointed out another key sign that the post was fake: there had been no official alert issued about a missing officer. Officials emphasized that in any such case, the department would issue a public notification through official channels, which was not the case here.
Resident Sara Chana Altman reminded the community of the dangers of misinformation, saying, “There is a lot of propaganda out there. We have to look at the source and the information before we start accusing people.” The police department is investigating how the fake post started but has urged everyone to remain vigilant and skeptical of unverified claims on social media.
