Ventura County Sheriff: Reports of Child/Adult attempted kidnapping on Social Media are Untrue

Recently concerned citizen groups have contacted the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office regarding reports of attempted child abductions. These groups became concerned after finding rumors circulated via several different social media outlets. Many of the rumors have the same general theme: while the “victim” was shopping at a nationwide retail store, suspicious men followed the “victim” and her children in an attempt to kidnap them and sell them into the sex trade. These stories have been circulating on social media sites throughout the country for the past few years, and variations of the stories continue to resurface every few months.

Recently, Ventura County Sheriff’s Detectives were alerted by a concerned citizen who saw a post on social media which alleged an attempt kidnapping of an adult. Detectives interviewed several of the people who had posted the story, and discovered they had re-posted it from other social media sites. Detectives were able to locate and interview the individual who the post was written about.  The individual said she did not write the post, and the story posted was inaccurate.

Year to date, we have had NO reported child abductions or attempted child abduction incidents in any of the jurisdictions patrolled by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. We encourage you to contact your local law enforcement agency to verify an allegation before you post it on social media.

Get Citizensjournal.us Headlines free  SUBSCRIPTION. Keep us publishing –DONATE