Local authorities are warning the public not to share a viral Facebook post falsely claiming a female police officer named Thelma Jakes has gone missing.
The post, shared widely in community buy-and-sell groups, falsely states that a 30-year-old officer, described as 5’5” and 160 lbs, went missing after her daughter was found alone in a vehicle.
The message claims that a “silver alert” was issued and urges people to “share the post to help find her,” complete with images of two women in uniform standing next to police vehicles.
However, police have confirmed that no officer is missing, and the entire post is a hoax.
This post is circulating in Facebook groups locally. No police officer is missing. The post is fake — please do not share it,” reads an official advisory shared by community moderators.
Spread of Viral Misinformation
The photos used in the post appear to be generic or unrelated stock images, and the narrative mimics a recycled hoax that has been spotted in several locations worldwide, often altered slightly to fit the local area.
Cybersecurity and public safety officials are urging residents to exercise caution and verify facts before resharing alarming social media posts — especially those not linked to official police pages or news sources.
What You Should Do
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Do not share the false post.
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Report the post to Facebook to help reduce misinformation.
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Follow trusted sources, such as Wiltshire Police or official news outlets, for genuine alerts.
