Over the past couple of weeks, the Sacramento Police Department has seen an increasing trend in robberies involving online social forums.  There have been at least 10 separate incidents throughout the City where the victims have set up dates with a female through a variety of social forums. 

In each case, the victims respond to a posting on a social forum and reach out to schedule a date with a female.  Once a date is agreed upon, the victim is given a predetermined time and location to meet at.  When the victim arrives at the arranged destination, the victims are confronted by several suspects.  In most of the incidents the suspects are armed with guns and in a few cases, the victims have been physically assaulted. 

Social networking is a platform of online sites that focus on building relationships among people who may share the same interest or activities.  It provides a way for users to interact over the Internet.  Users are often identified by their profiles, which can consist of photos and basic information.  While it is a great tool in keeping in touch with family and friends there are inherent dangers associated with using these platforms.  Below are a few examples of the risks associated with this type of activity.

·        Social networking sites make it very easy to pretend to be someone else

·        Location-based services can be one of the most dangerous features provided by social networking sites.  It exposes the profile user’s locations, whereabouts, and even their daily patterns making it easy to locate the user

·        Can expose an unsuspecting user to criminal elements simply by sharing information online that you would not normally share with strangers

To avoid becoming a victim here are a few tips to help protect yourself:

·        If you are meeting a person from an online connection, purchase or sale, meet in a public place during daylight hours

·        Don’t go alone

·        Always make sure that you tell someone where you are going and who you are meeting. 

·        If it appears too good to be true, it probably is! Whether it’s the deal of the century, or the that perfect match – be cautious!

·        The Bottom Line: do not participate in illegal activities online or in person – you are putting yourself at risk of becoming a victim

The Sacramento Police Department encourages any witnesses with information regarding these robberies to contact the dispatch center at (916) 264-5471 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at (916) 443-HELP (4357) or submit an anonymous tip using the free “P3 Tips” smartphone app.  Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.