PSA: ‘Missing Police Officer’ Daniel Tomlinson Post is a SCAM & HOAX

Don’t Fall for It! The Same Officer, ‘Missing’ in Different Cities

If you’ve been scrolling through Facebook recently, you may have come across a heartbreaking plea for help regarding a supposedly missing police officer named Daniel Tomlinson. The viral post claims:

“POLICE OFFICER MISSING in 📍Lake Ozark. Be on the lookout! The police need help in locating Police Officer Daniel Tomlinson, who went missing on Friday, March 28. His truck was found here on Saturday with his son inside, who was unconscious, but unfortunately, there is still no sign of Officer Tomlinson. He is 6’2” and 168 lbs.
A silver alert has been issued for Daniel, who is considered possibly to be in EXTREME danger and in need of medical assistance. We are asking for the community’s help. ONLY TAKES 2 SECONDS to share…”

🚨 STOP! This is a complete hoax. 🚨

The Truth: It’s a Copy-Paste SCAM

This fake missing person post is part of a widespread social media scam designed to exploit emotions and gain viral traction. Here’s why you shouldn’t believe or share it:

✔️ No official reports – There is zero mention of Officer Daniel Tomlinson in any news sources, law enforcement databases, or missing persons registries.

✔️ Same name, different cities – The exact same post has appeared in multiple cities and states, including Lake Ozark, Nashville, Denver, and even outside the U.S.

✔️ No police record of the officer – A search for “Daniel Tomlinson” as a real police officer turns up no credible results.

✔️ Tactics used by social media scammers – These scammers create fake tragic stories to emotionally manipulate people into sharing, boosting their reach. Once viral, they edit the post with phishing links, scams, or promotions for shady websites.

How This Scam Works

🚫 Step 1: The scammer posts a fake missing person alert using a realistic-looking story and an official-sounding name.

🚫 Step 2: The post asks people to “share immediately”, playing on urgency and emotion.

🚫 Step 3: The post gains thousands of shares, making it look credible—even though no actual missing person exists.

🚫 Step 4: The scammer edits the viral post, adding links to malware, phishing sites, or money-grabbing schemes. Sometimes, they even change the missing person’s name and repeat the scam in another city.

What You Should Do Instead

✅ VERIFY before you share! Search for the person’s name in legitimate missing persons databases or check local police websites.

✅ Look for news coverage. If a police officer was really missing, major news outlets would be reporting it.

✅ Report the post – If you see this fake missing person scam on Facebook, report it as false information to help stop the spread.

✅ Educate others – Let your friends and family know about this dangerous social media trend so they don’t fall for it.

Bottom Line: Don’t Be Fooled!

The “Daniel Tomlinson missing officer” post is a complete fabrication and part of a larger scam exploiting social media users. These hoaxes do more harm than good—not only misleading the public but also diverting attention from real missing persons cases that need awareness.

🚔 Always check facts before sharing. If in doubt, look for official police announcements or news reports. Don’t let scammers manipulate you! 🚔