Don't Fall For This 'Emotional' Scam, Fairfield Police Warn

FAIRFIELD, CT — Fairfield police are warning residents about a growing scam that plays on people's sympathy before hitting unsuspecting victims with malware or other malicious content.

In recent weeks, the Fairfield County Regional Dispatch Center has received calls regarding an internet scam in which individuals post "emotional or tragic stories on social media, often about missing persons, fatal accidents, or community emergencies," officials wrote in a post on Facebook.

These posts, which are designed to gain sympathy, are often:

• Set to "public" so anyone can share
• Comments are disabled to prevent fact-checking
• Made to look urgent, emotional, or local

The initial goal of such posts is to get them shared widely. But once it reaches a large audience, the scammer edits the original post, changing it to:

• A fraudulent fundraiser
• A link to malware or spam
• Or other misleading or harmful content

The following tips can help readers avoid being scammed:

• Verify before you share. Look for credible sources or local news confirmation.
  
• Be cautious of posts with disabled comments and no clear source or contact.
  
• Report suspicious posts to the platform.
  
• Remember: If it seems suspicious, it probably is. Help us keep our online community safe by thinking twice before sharing.