A Facebook rumor about white vans is spreading fear across America

[JamesAdam]

I caught this on the google news and wanted to share the link.


https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/04/tech/facebook-white-vans/index.html

A Facebook rumor about white vans is spreading fear across New York

(CNN)Terrifying rumors initially propelled by Facebook's algorithms have sparked fears that men driving white vans are kidnapping women all across the United States for sex trafficking and to sell their body parts. While there is no evidence to suggest this is happening, much less on a national, coordinated scale, a series of viral Facebook (FB) posts created a domino effect that led to the mayor of a major American city issuing a warning based on the unsubstantiated claims.

 

[crofter]

And whoever is making all this up will never be held accountable for the damage they do to other law abiding citizens. Why I consider all facebook to be bogus (untrue).   ~crofter

 

[crofter]

This organization does not mention vehicles in their list of signs of trafficking.  Also another site reports the viral Facebook posts were a hoax.   

https://humantraffickinghotline.org/human-trafficking/recognizing-signs

"After being questioned, the witness has admitted to making a false claim." from the link below.

https://wgxa.tv/news/local/police-w...alse-claim-about-alleged-abduction-11-20-2019

Really sad that the people taken in trafficking can't get help, due to people lying to the cops. ~crofter

 

[crofter]

Here's a link to the Fake-News writer Maarten Schenk showing a pic of the locks in question. The commentary following is quite irrational and scary (and mostly unprintable on here due to language), one soccer mom talks about shooting the van driver in the face when he or she gets out. 

Quote from the Maarten Schenk article, "[font=PTSans, Helvetica, sans-serif]Locks like these are actually quite common and they are often purchased by people who want to keep their toolboxes safe at night."[/font]

Soccer mom (not her real name): "[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]So who else got this when they shared this post now I do understand that they may use these type of locks on work trucks but why would you need them on in the day time like this your truck is moving...."[/font]

Rational person (not her real name): "[font=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Because they are bolted on."[/font]

https://hoax-alert.leadstories.com/3471111-fake-news-van-external-locks-call-911.html

 

[crofter]

Also no actual description of a vehicle, including pertinent information like make, model and plate number. In the van pics posted, includes every make but citroen. 

When getting out of my van in a parking lot, I have actually had strangers come up to me acting all relieved and saying "Oh it's you." Was I about to be shot in the face by the Soccer Mom? That is scary.  ~crofter

 

[wayne49]

You'd think the FB censors would be right on top of that there fake news.

 

[highdesertranger]

"You'd think the FB censors would be right on top of that there fake news"

hahahahahahahahahahahaha
I really hope you meant that as a joke and don't truly believe it.

highdesertranger

 

[JamesAdam]

I was thinking this may be a way to get people to stop using White Vans to live in and using the Facebook Algorithyms to cause chaos.

To many white vans, it's pretty much the only color they come in these days.  I remember the 1970's Good Time Vans with 50 Series tires on all four wheels and stripes and graphics to personalize the van.  Shag Carpet on the walls and Sound Systems you could here for blocks!

Anonymity has it's price...

 

[Timmy Hawk]

And that's why I call it fakebook!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

 

[misterB1]

And last night i got my first "knock" all because of this nonsense, we heard one officer repeat " it dosent have any locks, no less thsn three times, before they pounded on the side of the van.

 

[ckelly78z]

It sounds like if you get "the knock", that maybe you are doing something that isn't 100% legal (stealth parking on a neighborhood street). Keep this in mind that the police are probably just following up on a local citizen complaint, not just knocking on doors.

I would personally call the police if someone was parked/sleeping out in front of my house in an unmarked white van.

 

[misterB1]

parked at a casino, had only been there 30 mins. And the police openly admitted it was due to this stuff on facebook.

 

[crofter]

I had pulled in at Walmart, broad daylight, getting out of the van when the lady walked up and started to draw on me. She apologized, but still I coulda been kilt or worse. I had never seen her before, she looked like a well to do soccer mom. I was dressed in my usual boots, wranglers, fleece sweater, and windblown blonde hair, not a real scary look.    ~crofter

 

[highdesertranger]

"the lady walked up and started to draw on me"

what does that mean? I have never heard of that phrase before.

" I coulda been kilt or worse"

what does this mean? at first I thought you meant killed but you added or worse. what's worse that being killed?

highdesertranger

 

[Gypsy108]

lol

 

[jacqueg]

"the lady walked up and started to draw on me"

what does that mean? I have never heard of that phrase before.

" I coulda been kilt or worse"

what does this mean?  at first I thought you meant killed but you added or worse.  what's worse that being killed?

highdesertranger

I think he means he was afraid she'd make him wear a UtiliKilt...

 

[maki2]

Those Utillikilts are scary. I have seen lots of them, the original location where they made and sold them was nearby. Once they moved downtown the neighborhood became a much safer place, a lot less accidental and intentional indecent exposure incidents

 

[tx2sturgis]

what's worse that being killed?

Having to watch another Scotty Kilmer video....sheesh....there is a reason for that syllable in there...

 

[crofter]

Did you report her?

Guy

Security staff came and talked to me while I was shopping and said that they saw it but were unable to keep her out of the parking lot, advised me to find another store to shop at.

@HDR "started to draw"  picture this, she raises her shirt with the left hand, drives down on the concealed firearm with her right hand, starts out of the holster but then drops it back in. At which point she apologized. Security staff did pick it up on their cams and made contact with me inside the store.  -crofter

 

[highdesertranger]

dang call the LEO's. highdesertranger