Fake Police Release Prompts Real One
Posted July 20, 2007 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A fake news release warning citizens in the Yonge Street/Summerhill Avenue area of a sex offender prompted police to send out a message of their own.
From Wednesday, July 11 to Thursday, July 19, Toronto police received numerous calls from citizens who say they saw a man who matched the description of a potential sex offender in their neighbourhood. They claimed to have seen the description on a Toronto Police Service news release that had been posted in the area.
However, when police approached the man and investigated, it became clear he was not a sex offender and the news releases were faked.
The fake posters have been taped up on lamp posts in and around the Summerhill subway station.
Police advise the public to be aware they do not put out releases in this manner and if they see such fakes, they should call their local detachment.
