MARION, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—The Marion Police Department is alerting the public to an apparent scam involving an individual falsely claiming to be one of their officers.
The department said in a recent statement that they have received inquiries regarding the employment status of an “Officer Stokes” who is purportedly a K9 handler with their agency.
“We DO NOT have an Officer Stokes employed at the Marion Police Department despite this individual’s claim of employment with us, and we never have,” the department emphasized.
A search for the name on Facebook revealed multiple profiles, each claiming employment at different law enforcement agencies, further suggesting a fraudulent operation.
The Marion Police Department stressed that they will never solicit donations or payments through Facebook. They urged community members to exercise caution and to contact the department directly with any questions before sending money or sharing personal information if they suspect they may be the target of a scam.
To help the public verify the employment status of any law enforcement officer in Ohio, the department provided a link to the Ohio Attorney General’s Officer Search website.
Additionally, they included a link to the Ohio Attorney General’s website offering information and tips regarding various scams.
The Marion Police Department encourages anyone who believes they may have been a victim of this scam to contact them.