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NATCHEZ — Social media claims that a “serial killer” has made his way into Adams County are false, Sheriff Travis Patten said.

In fact, just search for this alleged serial killer on social media and it seems that he has been around visiting cities all over the country, allegedly pretending to be homeless, attacking a “single mom with a knife” and stealing a vehicle from an older woman “under the guise of helping her offload groceries from her car.”

The location and the ages of the women in each post change, but the rest of the story is the same — because it’s a hoax, Patten said.

“This is all over social media but it is fake,” he said.

He also said it’s not the first post of its kind made to create fear in communities. It seems an increasing number of them have been created and shared by unsuspecting users on social media.

“I’ve seen several posts like that and all of them are fakes. Citizens have no reason to be alarmed. That is one of many fake posts spread all over Facebook trying to create fear. My phone has continuously rang and texts keep coming in. The public needs to know: Don’t be alarmed. That is not a real post.”

Patten also said there have been an increasing number of scams attempting to defraud people by posing as a business, financial institution or law enforcement agency and collecting people’s private financial information.

“We get calls multiple times a day and more people are getting scammed every day through TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and through messages and give out their information to strangers.”

Patten advised the public to protect themselves by researching the legitimacy of a message with a trusted agency like the Better Business Bureau or local law enforcement agency. He also asked those who do happen to become victimized to report it.

“The FBI has created a whole new division that they’re asking the general public to report these types of crimes to,” he said. “If this happens to you, let them know.”

Click here for additional information or click here to report internet crimes.