Police issue advisory over growing false rumours of child-kidnapping gang in Pune

The advisory further read, “All citizens are requested to: Not believe or spread any unverified information that may cause anxiety among parents and guardians. Refrain from forwarding such messages on social media. In case of any suspicious incident or emergency, immediately contact your nearest police station or dial 112. You may also reach out to Pune City Police through our official social media platforms. Let us work together to keep the city safe and free from misinformation.”

A senior police official said such rumours often stem from recycled false messages from the past often accompanied by unrelated photos and are shared without verification. “In many cases rumours originate in one city and then spread across other cities with online miscreants replacing names of the city. Such messages are circulated widely in messenger groups of parents, residential societies or relatives. They are forwarded repeatedly, creating a false sense of urgency and panic. What has added to the complication is AI generated images and videos. There are also messages claiming to be from authentic news sources with images using logos of trusted news outlets but carrying false information. It is very important that citizens use only trusted sources of information.”