You might come across Facebook posts warning the public of a 52 years old serial killer named Robert Thibodeau. Beware, it’s a scam designed to generate widespread shares and then defraud people.
The image on the post isn’t Robert Thibodeau but James Vining a former Tangipahoa fireman arrested in 2018 for child pornography. He isn’t a serial killer, it isn’t a recent case and he is imprisoned.
How does this scam work? Once the Facebook posts have gathered lots of Likes and Shares, the scammers edit the post and change the information. Instead of serial killer alert, the post is changed to free giveaway directing people to click on a link.
Clicking on the link leads to malicious websites offering fake rewards and services. One particular post was that of a Free Dental Services which led to a promo page for SMILE HELP
While the Facebook post might seem convincing, here are warning signs that indicated it’s a full fledged scam;
- There have been no major news reports about this case.
- The posts are not posted on personal Facebook pages but on country sales pages such as Fluvanna Yard Sale, Detroit Sale, e.t.c.
- It is posted by anonymous Facebook profiles with few followers. One of such profiles is ‘Brandie Hughes’ , only posts click-bait missing person, lost and found posts which are untrue.
Before you like or share a post, check it out, do a bit of research.
Resolve to question everything you are shown on social media; stop and think – is your like or share funding a scammer?
See similar scam – Gracie Mae Thompson Missing Girl Scam
Nora