In wake of school massacre, Conn. authorities warn against social media frauds
NEWTOWN, Conn. Connecticut authorities complained Sunday that false information about the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary school is being promulgated online by social media tricksters. And they warned that such misinformation is prosecutable under the law.
"Misinformation is being posted on social media. People posing as the shooter, mimicking this crime and crime scene and criminal activity, some things in a threatening manner," said Conn. State Police spokesman Paul Vance.
In addition to people pretending to be the shooter or other principals in the investigation, Vance said other posters are putting up information purported to be from the Newtown city police or the Connecticut state police. Neither of those agencies are posting information via twitter or other social media, he said.
"All info related to this case is coming from these microphones," he told reporters at a press briefing in Newtown Sunday morning.
Vance said he considered the misinformation a "violation of federal law and warrants an investigation."
"These issues are crimes, they will be examined in state and federally."