WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and Better Business Bureau are sounding the alarm on a growing Facebook scam that is deceiving users across the country, including right here in Kansas.
The “bait-and-switch” scam starts with emotionally charged posts in local Facebook buy-and-sell groups, featuring stories of missing children, injured pets, or distressed seniors. Concerned users share these posts to help, unknowingly spreading the scam.
“You want to help, so you share it,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a social post . “But here’s the truth: you may be helping a scammer.”
Scammers edit popular posts after they gain traction, turning them into fake rental listings, bogus product pitches, or links to fraudulent surveys promising cash prizes. Since the post was shared by a trusted source, it seems legitimate, prompting many to engage or share personal information…