This police officer isn’t in danger, but your personal information might be; these posts are scams

A woman in a uniform, gold badge gleaming, stares out of Facebook posts shared across the country warning that she’s missing, and maybe in danger. 

"FEMALE POLICE OFFICER MISSING in Winnemucca," reads one such March 28 post, shared in a group for people to buy, sell and trade belongings in Winnemucca, Nevada. "Be on the look out, the police need help in locating female police officer KATIE CUNNINGHAM (28) who went missing yesterday morning. Her car was found last night with her daughter inside but unfortunately, there is still no sign of her. She is 5’9" and 163 lbs. A silver alert has been issued for Katie who is considered to possibly be in EXTREME danger and in need of medical assistance. We are asking for the community’s help. IT ONLY TAKES 2 SECONDS to share…"

The Winnemucca Police Department did, in fact, share the post. But only to say that it’s a scam.

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"This person does not work for any law enforcement agency in this area," the Winnemucca Police Department’s post said, sharing a link to a news story about Montana’s Great Falls Police Department warning about a similar scam. 

That post used the same image of a woman in uniform, name and other details, but claimed she was missing from "Kent County." Posts shared in other groups claimed the officer was missing from New Jersey and Milledgeville, Georgia, among other places.

The post’s image is authentic. It shows Great Falls Police Department Sgt. Katie Cunningham, the department said in a Facebook post. But, the department said, the photo is 10 years old, Cunningham is 5’3", not 5’9", she’s not 28 years old, and she’s "alive and well."

"When Cunningham sent her husband the screenshot, he asked if there is a reward," the department said. 

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Plus, the department said, there’s no Kent County in Montana. 

We’ve previously fact-checked scam posts purporting to raise awareness about missing police officers. 

The Better Business Bureau said in a Nov. 5, 2024, blog post that bait-and-switch scams such as these are increasing in local buy-and-sell Facebook groups. 

"You are scrolling through Facebook, and a gut-wrenching post about an injured animal, a missing child, or a lost older adult grabs your attention. You want to help, so you share the post on your own profile," the blog post said. "After you share the post, the scammer changes the original post to a deceptive rental ad, a sales pitch or a link to a survey that ‘guarantees’ a cash prize. Now, your friends think you have recommended that content. These bait-and-switch ads aim to either get a deposit for a rental property before the user gets a chance to see the home — or get your personal information, which could lead to identity theft."

We rate claims these posts show a missing police officer as Pants on Fire!