Police have dismissed a viral Facebook post claiming that a child was found in Extension 8, Joza, Makhanda, saying no such incident has been reported to or recorded by local police stations.
SAPS spokesperson Captain Marius McCarthy confirmed that the post, which includes a photograph of a child and has been widely shared online, is false.
The latest post follows a history of false child-safety warnings circulating in Makhanda and surrounding communities.
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In 2020, police warned residents about a recycled “crying child” message claiming criminals were using children to lure people to particular addresses. The warning, which falsely presented itself as coming from SAPS, had circulated in different forms for years.
In 2019, a 15-year-old Joza teenager admitted that a Facebook post claiming she had been kidnapped was false. Police had launched an investigation after the teenager claimed she had been forced into a vehicle while walking to a shop. A case of defeating the ends of justice was subsequently opened.
McCarthy said the latest Facebook post fits a growing social media scam pattern in which emotionally charged claims are used to encourage people to share posts widely.
Scammers often use recycled photographs of children and disable comments, preventing other social media users from publicly challenging the claims. Once a post has attracted significant attention, its caption can be edited to include malicious links intended to compromise social media accounts or obtain personal information.
Police warned that sharing unverified information can have consequences beyond social media, particularly when claims involve missing or endangered children.
False reports can cause unnecessary panic, consume police resources and divert attention from genuine emergencies.
SAPS has urged residents who encounter the circulating Joza post to delete it rather than share it further.
Residents are also encouraged to verify missing or found-person notices through official SAPS channels, established media organisations or recognised non-profit organisations before sharing or interacting with them online.
Anyone with information about the origin of the false post can contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or report information anonymously through the MySAPS app.
