Now, I know what happened to all those "black helicopters"...

Viper1j

Diamond Member
Jul 31, 2018
4,257
3,832
136
They've all been replaced, by white vans! o_O


A Facebook rumor about white vans is spreading fear across America

Terrifying rumors initially propelled by Facebook's algorithms have sparked fears that men driving white vans are kidnapping women all across the United States for sex trafficking and to sell their body parts. While there is no evidence to suggest this is happening, much less on a national, coordinated scale, a series of viral Facebook (FB) posts created a domino effect that led to the mayor of a major American city issuing a warning based on the unsubstantiated claims.

The latest online-induced panic shows how viral Facebook posts can stoke paranoia and make people believe that spotting something as common as a white van, can be deemed suspicious and connected to a nationwide cabal.
"Don't park near a white van," Baltimore Mayor Bernard "Jack" Young said in a TV interview on Monday. "Make sure you keep your cellphone in case somebody tries to abduct you."

The mayor said he had not been told of the apparent threat by Baltimore Police but said it was "all over Facebook."

Matthew Jablow, a spokesperson for the Baltimore Police Department, told CNN Business on Tuesday that while the department is aware of posts on social media it had not received "any reports of actual incidents."

Indeed, while there is no hard evidence of any such phenomenon in Baltimore, unconfirmed reports of suspicious white vans in Baltimore and other cities across the US have been shared hundreds of thousands of times on Facebook in recent weeks and have been seen by potentially millions of Facebook users. At least one person who drives a white van has reported being harassed for it as a result of the rumors.

Baltimore City Councilman Kristerfer Burnett, co-chair of the Baltimore City Human Trafficking Collaborative, told CNN Business that he worried that the panic about white vans would distract from the wider issue of human trafficking. "We need to make sure accurate information is out there especially because Baltimore is a hotbed of human trafficking in the country," Burnett added.

He said the rumors had spread mostly through Facebook, "which I think is sort of telling given the national conversation around Facebook's ability and inability to control the spread of inaccurate information on their platform." In Georgia, police investigating reports of suspicious white vans have asked the public to call 911 rather than post on social media.

Going viral
Sightings of "suspicious" white vans in Baltimore have been reported on Facebook for years. For example, CNN Business found one 2016 post from a woman who warned there was a white van outside her home and that people should be careful because there was "a guy in a white van kidnapping kids."

Contacted by CNN Business Tuesday, the woman said she had no specific evidence to back up the claim but that she had heard it "plenty of times" and was only trying to warn her friends who have children. While that posting barely received any attention, there has been a flurry of posts about white vans in Baltimore over the past month that have gone viral on Facebook and Instagram, which is also owned by Facebook.

On November 13th, Saundra Murray, a Baltimore resident, posted photos of a white van outside a gas station to Instagram. Murray said two men in the van would not stop staring at her while they were in the store. Murray told CNN Business she had seen the men in the store before she knew they were in a white van. She said she didn't report the incident to police "because I didn't have much information to report but I did want to make the [Instagram] post to let people know what is going on."

Murray said she had seen reports on social media of suspicious white vans but she thought people were exaggerating -- mysterious white vans are a "big thing in movies," she thought, and believed that might have added to the exaggeration. However, after her experience, she now believes the men and the van are "part of a bigger story, I don't think they are two random guys."

Baltimore Police has received no reports of actual incidents.

Murray's post racked up more than 3,200 likes on Instagram. A few days later, on November 17, another woman in Baltimore posted screenshots of Murray's Instagram post to Facebook. That Facebook post had been shared more than 2,000 times by this Tuesday.

A separate Facebook post from another woman in Baltimore on November 18 that was shared more than 5,000 times showed a stock image of a white van and warned: "When you come out into the mall parking lot, and you see a van like this parked next to your car, DO NOT GO TO YOUR CAR."

The post claimed that sex traffickers had "these vans rigged where they lock from the outside, and, once inside, you can't get out." But the posts were not only going viral in Baltimore. A Facebook post from a man in South Carolina on November 15 showed a photo of a white van with two external locks. The photo appeared to have been taken from Snapchat.
"IF U SEE ANY VANS LIKE THIS CALL 911 THIS IS UTILIZED FOR SEX TRAFFICKING," the Facebook post read. The post was shared an extraordinary 151,000 times.

Beyond Facebook
To help tackle its misinformation problem, Facebook has hired third-party fact-checkers. On November 21, one of the company's partners, Lead Stories, ran a fact-check that said people don't need to be particularly concerned just because they spot a van with external locks.
Lead Stories pointed out that external locks on vans are commonly used by construction workers who keep expensive tools in their vehicles.
The fact-check has been applied to some Facebook posts about white vans, meaning Facebook users who try to view those posts will be alerted that the information is false.

But while that might help slow or stop the spread of such posts in the future, it can't undo the damage done or prevent the information from going elsewhere. On Tuesday, screenshots of the Facebook post were circulating through an email listserv for parents in a New York suburb, CNN Business learned. The biggest concern, of course, isn't just fear-mongering on Facebook, but how it can spread to the real world. In Detroit, a home improvement specialist told local media in late November he was harassed for driving a white van after he said speculation about white vans went viral on Facebook in the city.
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
70,165
28,813
136
"Ford Fleet Purchasing, how may I help you today."
"Yes, I'd like to order a fleet of white cargo vans for nationwide delivery."
"I can help you with that. Are you looking for any special features?"
"I'd like the interior stripped and shackles installed on the walls, a urine drain in the floor, and blacked out rear windows."
"Ah, it sounds like you're interested in our Slaver Package. We're running a rebate on that package if you take delivery before Dec 31st. If you get the sound-proofing upgrade we'll include the 'Free Candy' premium decals at no extra charge."


People are so stupid.
 

trenchfoot

Lifer
Aug 5, 2000
14,898
7,426
136
Sounds like a procrastinating psych major is finally forced to get working on their thesis.

OR, there is a nation-wide conspiracy hatched by a road rage victim that was cut off by an unmarked white van in busy freeway traffic while the victim was driving a safe and steady 25 mph in the passing lane.
 
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UNCjigga

Lifer
Dec 12, 2000
24,929
9,208
136
I think I’m finally going to delete my Facebook today. Been thinking about it for a while, downloaded all my content and minimized my profile and stopped posting, but I was using it for SSO into some apps and keeping up with family. No more.
 

Viper1j

Diamond Member
Jul 31, 2018
4,257
3,832
136
"Ford Fleet Purchasing, how may I help you today."
"Yes, I'd like to order a fleet of white cargo vans for nationwide delivery."
"I can help you with that. Are you looking for any special features?"
"I'd like the interior stripped and shackles installed on the walls, a urine drain in the floor, and blacked out rear windows."
"Ah, it sounds like you're interested in our Slaver Package. We're running a rebate on that package if you take delivery before Dec 31st. If you get the sound-proofing upgrade we'll include the 'Free Candy' premium decals at no extra charge."


People are so stupid.

Whenever I have a large deployment or network install I rent two cargo vans from Enterprise. All they have is white after getting sued locally by Hertz.
 

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
31,408
9,299
136
This actually happens in the UK.

Except it involves Greggs pasties, bad driving and swearing at cyclists.
 

Paladin3

Diamond Member
Mar 5, 2004
4,933
877
126
Who'da thunk getting your news from the average idiot on Facebook could backfire? People talk about how you can't trust the media, but if it's in their Facebook feed it must be true. Not to mention this is another example reminding us there is no I.Q. or even common sense test required for politicians.
 
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Reactions: ch33zw1z
Nov 17, 2019
12,188
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Fake bookers have short memories.

Does no one remember the hysteria of the suspicious white van surrounding the DC sniper in 2002? They were stopping and searching white vans like crazy.

Dudes weren't even in a van, unless you consider a blue Chevy four door sedan a white box truck/van.


And some people quote too much of articles instead of snippets and links.

Can't we just ban Fakebook altogether?
 

Ken g6

Programming Moderator, Elite Member
Moderator
Dec 11, 1999
16,343
4,022
75
Funny you should post this. Lately a suspicious white van keeps pulling up in front of my door. :fearful:

Then the driver gets out and delivers a package I ordered from Amazon. :D

I have heard that company keeps its workers in virtual slavery, so maybe they're on to something. :eek:
 
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Reactions: Meghan54

DigDog

Lifer
Jun 3, 2011
13,746
2,263
126
SENSATIONAL! People who believed in Mysterious Black Helicopers(tm) now believe in Equally Ridiculous Conspiracy Theory(tm)!!
Number three will blow your mind!
 
Mar 11, 2004
23,261
5,709
146
Recently there was a white passenger van (so not the windowless cargo style) cruising around the neighborhood at stupid slow speeds (like 5mph), that was kinda creepy. We pulled out behind it on the way somewhere and it then sped up, but slowed back down as it got to another section of the neighborhood where we turned and it kept straight. Not sure what it was doing, maybe was just looking at x-mas lights or something, but still was kinda weird. During summer there's been similar "ice cream trucks" as in white passenger van with people that are actually selling ice cream out of it. Its pretty creepy but its like a family and I think they might be connected with some church or something although honestly for me that actually raises the creep factor, but they actually do have ice cream as I've seen groups of people stop them and buy, and I think they have a decal that lists what they have. I wouldn't let my kids buy from them if I had any though. There's also another one that drives around with I think spinning rims and plays that "Does your Chain hang low" song. I think the HOA told them to stop almost immediately, and I think tells the ones in the white van as well (as I usually see them once then never again for the whole summer, but they seem to test it every year).

My sister said there's been "reports of...." stuff that sounds similar to this, which something about what she was talking about seemed kinda fishy, but I hadn't had time to see what the source for her info was or what was up. Unfortunately my siblings seem prone to believing conspiracy stuff (not like full blown deranged level thankfully but at times that seems more out of laziness than anything).
 
Mar 11, 2004
23,261
5,709
146
I think I’m finally going to delete my Facebook today. Been thinking about it for a while, downloaded all my content and minimized my profile and stopped posting, but I was using it for SSO into some apps and keeping up with family. No more.

I keep an account but rarely post on it and tell family I don't check it at all so if they want me to know something then call/text me. When I would use it, I'd like once a year download my data/images, and basically delete everything up til like the most recent month or week. Unfortunately there's a few people that I can only contact through there or I'd probably delete it for good.

This actually happens in the UK.

Except it involves Greggs pasties, bad driving and swearing at cyclists.

I forget where, but I recently saw some article titled something about some alleged huge conspiracy of a group that's been grooming young British girls for sex work or something? I didn't recognize the source so I figured it was either being overblown or straight up made up.

Fake bookers have short memories.

Does no one remember the hysteria of the suspicious white van surrounding the DC sniper in 2002? They were stopping and searching white vans like crazy.

Dudes weren't even in a van, unless you consider a blue Chevy four door sedan a white box truck/van.


And some people quote too much of articles instead of snippets and links.

Can't we just ban Fakebook altogether?

Did you mean boomers?

Honestly I feel like they should just regularly stop white vans and check them out as they're just creepy, even if they're work vans. Plus there's definitely been serial rapists/murderers that used them (Toolbox Killers comes to mind).

Well sure eventually that was discovered but its not like they fucking knew that early on with most of the shootings, and people often reported seeing white vans that seemed to be driving away from the area in a hurry.

Its kinda like with the multiple freeway shooters that's been around Phoenix over the past like two decades, they know jack shit but try to work with the little bit of info they do have.
 

thecoolnessrune

Diamond Member
Jun 8, 2005
9,671
580
126
This stuff has definitely been covering my Facebook wall recently, all posted by women, all reposting the same unconfirmed story in the name of "better safe than sorry". Now people are just starting to post random license plates of white vans they come across because they "acted suspiciously".

This is why we can't have nice things.
 

Viper1j

Diamond Member
Jul 31, 2018
4,257
3,832
136
This stuff has definitely been covering my Facebook wall recently, all posted by women, all reposting the same unconfirmed story in the name of "better safe than sorry". Now people are just starting to post random license plates of white vans they come across because they "acted suspiciously".

This is why we can't have nice things.

It's all fun and games, until somebody gets killed over it. :cool:

Remember Pizzagate?
 

pmv

Lifer
May 30, 2008
13,602
8,508
136
Actually I've noticed that motorists seem to behave in a much more creepy manner than they used to. It's as if many of them are 'kerb crawlers' now (even when it's not an area with any street prostitution). It unnerves me when being a pedestrian after dark - they'll drive along very slowly, mysteriously stop in the middle of the road for no reason, or pull over, sit for a few moments, then drive a bit further down the road and stop again. If this were the US I'd start worrying about 'drive by shootings'.

But I then figured it out - it's because of the ubiquity of cell phones and in-car GPS and the fact that so many cars now have dashboards full of screens and gadgets like the Starship Enterprise. These people are all stopping to send text messages or to check their GPS. Many are probably Uber drivers.
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
70,165
28,813
136
Actually I've noticed that motorists seem to behave in a much more creepy manner than they used to. It's as if many of them are 'kerb crawlers' now (even when it's not an area with any street prostitution). It unnerves me when being a pedestrian after dark - they'll drive along very slowly, mysteriously stop in the middle of the road for no reason, or pull over, sit for a few moments, then drive a bit further down the road and stop again. If this were the US I'd start worrying about 'drive by shootings'.

But I then figured it out - it's because of the ubiquity of cell phones and in-car GPS and the fact that so many cars now have dashboards full of screens and gadgets like the Starship Enterprise. These people are all stopping to send text messages or to check their GPS. Many are probably Uber drivers.
Opioids . We used to have just drunk drivers with the occasional stoners. Then we added Prozac drivers in the 2000s. Now we have oping drivers every day, everywhere.
 

pmv

Lifer
May 30, 2008
13,602
8,508
136
Opioids . We used to have just drunk drivers with the occasional stoners. Then we added Prozac drivers in the 2000s. Now we have oping drivers every day, everywhere.


That may indeed be the case in the US (I'm guessing especially rural US?) but here in London I'm sure it's texting or checking the GPS. Same reason why you'll see them at the traffic lights still sitting there not moving after the lights have gone green (till people behind start beeping at them).

Driving while using a hand-held mobile phone is supposed to be at least as bad for your competence as driving while drunk or on drugs, so, maybe not a huge difference. People seem to get confused between their cars and their office/living room.
 

Viper1j

Diamond Member
Jul 31, 2018
4,257
3,832
136
Life imitates art.


A man kidnapped a woman and shoved her into a van with a cage in Alabama, police say

A man was arrested after he kidnapped a woman at knifepoint in Alabama and shoved her into a white van that had chained doors, blanket coverings and a cage in the back, police said.

Investigators released body camera footage Wednesday showing the suspect's arrest after the victim was rescued following a dramatic standoff in Brookside.

The incident unfolded Sunday afternoon after a witness called 911 and alerted dispatchers to an ongoing kidnapping. The woman was bleeding from the head and face, and was screaming, "help he's gonna kill me!" as the man forced her into the vehicle, police said in a statement. The witness followed the vehicle and provided dispatch with details such as the van's description, the direction it was headed and tag number, authorities said.

A pursuit led to a standoff

Brookside patrol units saw the van passing by a local church and tried to stop it, but the suspect allegedly sped off. "Officers engaged a vehicle pursuit. Additional units responded to assist. Officers were able to block the suspect vehicle on Mt. Olive Rd where they observed an injured female victim ... being held against her will and forced to the floorboard by the suspect," police said. "Officers pursued the vehicle and requested tactical response units to assist."

They then conducted a rolling roadblock and barricaded the van, bringing it to a stop. The suspect allegedly tried to run over a Brookside officer, but the officer shot into the van and disabled it, police said.

For about 35 minutes, officers tried to negotiate with the suspect as he held the screaming victim at knifepoint at the back of the van, authorities said.
"The suspect was demanding the officers kill him. Fearing immediate danger to the victim, Brookside tactical officers (breached) the rear of the suspect vehicle, tased the suspect and made entry into the front of the vehicle to engage the suspect," police said. Deputies rushed in and rescued the victim.

Van had cages and blankets, police say

The victim suffered cuts to the head and face, and was hospitalized in stable condition. Two Brookside officers suffered minor injuries during the suspect's arrest and were treated on the scene. The suspect was identified as Sean E. Sanders of Los Angeles, and was charged with kidnapping, attempted murder on a police officer, resisting arrest, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief, authorities said.

Inside the van, police found wire cages over the windows, blankets covering the inside to prevent anyone from seeing and doors chained shut from the inside, police said. Sanders admitted to kidnapping the victim against her will, assaulting her and trying to run over a police officer, authorities said. He's being held in the Jefferson County jail on $191,000 bond.
It's unclear whether Sanders has an attorney.