Sheriff Warns Of 'Serial Killer Scam' Targeting Hudson Valley Victims

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — Hudson Valley law enforcement officials are sounding the alarm that a nationwide "serial killer scam" has shown up on local social media newsfeeds.

Sheriff Kevin J. McConville has advised the public that the fake social media posting that is circulating throughout the country has recently appeared on accounts within Putnam County.

The fraudulent posting in question falsely warns people to be aware of a serial killer who is on the loose. It includes an image of a wanted subject and uses the names of the "suspect" and a "victim."

There is no validity to the post, according to the sheriff.

In a statement, McConville's office said that sharing suspect breaking news from social media with friends and family could cause real harm.

"Sharing these types of Facebook posts might put your friends and family at risk of becoming a victim of a scam," McConville said. "After you share the post, the scammer will change the original post to a deceptive rental ad or some other type of sales pitch or a survey link with a cash prize. Now, your friends think that you have recommended that content, and it may lead to the sharing of personal information, which could lead to identity theft."

Officials said that caution is the best policy when faced with unvetted social media posts."The Sheriff's Office strongly cautions people against sharing dubious postings without doing a little homework to see if it is legitimate."