A viral social media post claiming a young woman was shot and killed in West Garfield Park is entirely fabricated.
The fake report stated that 20-year-old Semaj Smith was the victim of a fatal shooting in the neighborhood.
Local community platform Chicago Crime Chaser officially debunked the rumor after the post began circulating rapidly with their digital tag attached to it.
The platform issued a public service announcement on Facebook to clarify that they did not generate or publish the alert.
Representatives from the outlet urged followers to verify all breaking news by checking their official pages directly before sharing alarming community reports.
The organization warned the public to remain vigilant against fraudulent pages that impersonate their brand to spread misinformation.
Semaj Smith also took to social media to personally address the false reports regarding her death.
Smith stated that this marks the second time internet hoaxes have targetted her with fabricated fatal scenarios.
The target noted that a previous online rumor falsely claimed she passed away during a music video shoot.
Smith expressed frustration over the recurring internet hoaxes and explicitly rejected the latest claims placing her in West Garfield Park.
Digital Safety & Awareness Tips
Verify the Source Directly: Always click through to the official profile or website of a news organization to ensure the post actually exists on their official timeline.
Look for Digital Artifacts: Fake viral alerts often utilize screenshots with mismatched fonts, blurry logos, or strange formatting to mimic legitimate breaking news outlets.
Report Impersonation: If you encounter a page mimicking a local news provider or spreading unverified death reports, utilize the platform’s reporting tools immediately to halt the spread of misinformation.
