Fact Check: Serial killer hunting in Rochester?

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — A serial killer or abductor hunting in Rochester, New York. That’s a claim going around on social media. A viewer contacted News10NBC asking if it’s legit. So Nikki Rudd went to work and is checking the facts.

The post includes a mug shot. It reads: “There’s a serial killer or abductor who is currently hunting in Rochester NY. My friend was almost taken by him. He drives a truck with LED lights and hits cars of women alone and once they pull over he takes them. Multiple disappearances. If you are in the area and you are hit by a truck with LED lights keep driving and call the cops. Stay safe.”
So is this true? Rochester Police tell us it’s false. They say it’s a hoax circulating all across the country.

We found posts from other police departments from Kentucky to Illinois to North Dakota. The name of the city is just changed. The post appears to come from a person in Zimbabwe.

The Moline, Illinois Police Department posted: “Over the past couple weeks, Munashe Mudzviti from Harare, Zimbabwe has been tagging local Facebook groups with a post indicating there is a serial killer loose in our area. This post has been shared throughout the United States and Canada. It appears Mudzviti is bored in his parent’s basement and they don’t take away his phone at night so instead of scrolling through TikToks like everyone else, he is attempting to incite fear in our community.”

If you see the post, click on the upper right-hand corner and report it as fake.