UPS Delivery-Guy-As-Terrorist Hoax Dupes LAPD, LA Weekly
Oops. We fell for it too. But an LA Weekly post about a purported U.S. Department of Homeland Security warning about fake UPS delivery men and women was only up for a few minutes before we saw that the LAPD West Valley Division, which first published the hoax on its Nixle account, made a correction.
Delivering fear.
We were wary of the writing style (exclamation points from feds?). But we bit. Darn it. So did the LAPD.
The fake DHS statement said someone bought $32,000 worth of UPS uniforms on eBay and that ...
... we should be scared, very scared.
It actually warned people not to trust UPS delivery workers who roll up to your curb in anything but that distinctive brown truck. No shit, right?
... If someone in a UPS uniform comes to make a drop off or pick up, make absolutely sure they are driving a UPS truck. UPS doesn't make deliveries or pickups in anything, except a company vehicle.
Gosh, as if the little old ladies in the Valley don't have enough phantom menaces to worry about -- illegal immigrants, nurses taking their jewelry, kids on their lawn -- they have this hoax to keep them company.
The statement reads:
"This could represent a serious threat as bogus drivers (terrorists) can drop off anything to anyone with deadly consequences!" writes the DHS.
The LAPD West Valley Division issued this correction:
Unfortunately the info re: UPS Uniforms came from another Law Enforcement Agency in the State of California purporting the validity of the information. This "INFO" is, apparently an Internet myth.However, the advice is good in that you should always verify the delivery service has arrived with their own company vehicle.
Our deepest APOLOGIZES from the LAPD WVY Area !!!
It's cool, coppers. It's Friday.
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