Fact check: Police debunk claim of sex trafficking attempt in Dearborn, Michigan
The claim: There was a recent sex trafficking attempt in Dearborn, Michigan
An array of false or exaggerated claims about supposed human trafficking and kidnapping attempts have spread around the country in recent months. The latest claims a woman in Michigan narrowly avoided being taken by a sex trafficker.
“VERY IMPORTANT WARNING. This happened yesterday near Dearborn Michigan,” reads the start of a Sept. 17 Facebook post that was shared more than 2,600 times in just over a week.
It went on to describe a man stopping in front of a woman’s vehicle, getting out and attempting to reach into her driver’s side door while wearing white gloves. The post claimed a detective later told the victim the gloves have chemicals on them to “knock a person out cold” as part of a sex trafficking attempt.
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But the claimed abduction attempt never happened. Police said no such incident was reported in the area.
USA TODAY reached out to the user who shared the claim for comment.
Fake post comes after similar false reports in Michigan
The Dearborn Police Department issued a statement on Facebook saying the claims were false.
“Please be advised that this is a FAKE post and there are no indications of any actual incident,” said the Sept. 22 post.
The claim was also debunked by numerous local outlets, including The Detroit News and Press and Guide. The latter outlet reported it first circulated on WhatsApp before jumping to Facebook and Instagram.
Fact check: False claim of man allegedly terrorizing several towns
Authorities have also debunked claims of a serial killer kidnapping people in Genesee County and a human trafficking attempt near Detroit Metro Airport in recent months, as reported by FOX 2 Detroit.
Our rating: False
Based on our research, we rate FALSE the claim that there was a sex trafficking attempt in Dearborn. Police said no such incident was reported in the area.
Our fact-check sources:
Press and Guide, Sept. 26, Dearborn police say human trafficking posts are fake
FOX 2 Detroit, Sept. 23, Dearborn police debunk Southfield Freeway attempted human trafficking Facebook post
The Detroit News, Sept. 23, Dearborn police: human trafficking post on social media is fake
Dearborn Police Department, Sept. 22, Facebook post
USA TODAY, Aug. 26, Fact check: False claim of traffickers targeting victims through markers, shopping carts
USA TODAY, Sept. 12, Fact check: Incidents at South Carolina gas station, grocery store unrelated to kidnapping
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fact check: False claim of sex trafficking attempt in Michigan
