The Vancouver Police Department says a social media rumor that four teenage girls were killed over the weekend in Vancouver is a hoax and encouraged people to verify information before sharing.
“Social media can be a great way to connect with friends; however, for topics such as crime information, we encourage people to follow credible sources, such as law enforcement, government agencies or legitimate media, who confirm facts before posting,” police spokeswoman Kim Kapp said in an email to The Columbian.
Kapp did not know where the false information came from or the original poster’s intent. She noted that people expressed fear over the rumor in the comments on the police department’s social media posts debunking the misinformation. She said rumors can grow quickly online with the speed of social media.
“If you see something that seems like it might be a rumor, we encourage people to reach out to a legitimate source to confirm facts before sharing with others,” Kapp said in the email. “The sooner internet rumors get addressed, the faster the facts can get out.”
