Southern Miss Police: No credibility to kidnapping ploy flyer

(The following is a press release from the University of Southern Mississippi.)

The University of Southern Mississippi Police Department is directing faculty, staff and students to disregard a flyer circulating throughout the Hattiesburg campus containing false information about a kidnapping ploy. The flyer includes a message accompanied by a photograph that states: “HB 3470 is doing human trafficking!!! He has a gun in his car… please be careful and look out for the number plate. Pass this around and save a life!” University Police Chief Rusty Keyes points out that an identical message has been circulating through various channels for more than two years in different parts of the world. “I encourage the University community to always contact UPD first before sharing information of this nature on social media,” said Chief Keyes. To report an emergency or suspicious activity, contact University Police at 601.266.4986 or visit: https://www.usm.edu/police/