A series of scams have populated the Facebook group Powell Valley Exchange recently, with one post claiming that a murder and sexual assault took place Monday morning and the perpetrator was on the loose. The post was quickly removed.

Another post alleges that the poster found a missing girl and is asking for help to locate the parents. 

An Aug. 2 post by Ashton Maphosa advertising a home for rent on behalf of her aunt, may have originally stated she found a missing girl. Comments found on shared versions of the post identify the missing girl post as a scam or are related to a missing girl and not real estate. Maphosa has several posts to Powell Valley Exchange advertising homes for rent. 

Other posts also claim to be selling or renting out at competitive rates. The real estate associated posts commonly have #BOOMchallenge in the post caption. 

One post including the hashtag advertises a diaper giveaway “in the Heights” and asks supporters to click a link.

Additional recurring posts advertise a position for a man or woman to clean apartments and construction houses, while similar posts look for night shift workers.

Upon looking at the posters’ personal accounts, they are commonly also not from Powell or are foreign citizens. 

Powell Police Chief Roy Eckerdt advises that people check posts they see online with a “legitimate source” before moving forward.

For posts that allege a crime has taken place or a missing child has been found, Eckerdt advises the public to first check the Powell Police Department Facebook page or website to confirm this information.