No Evidence of Perfume Laced Paper-Related Organized Kidnapping in Sri Lanka!

දිනපතා සත්‍ය කරුණු දැන ගැනීමට අපගේ WhatsApp සමුහයටමෙතනින් එකතුවන්න.

In Sri Lanka, kidnappings and crimes persist, contributing to concerns within the public sphere. Unfortunately, the advent of social media has given rise to the dissemination of hoax stories regarding such incidents.

These false narratives can instigate unnecessary fear and panic among the general population. Our investigation aims to identify and debunk such hoaxes, ensuring that accurate information prevails and preventing the unwarranted anxiety spread within the community.

Social Media Posts

A viral message circulating on social media in Sri Lanka warns individuals about a purported scam involving strangers offering perfume samples on laced papers. The message claims that the paper is infused with drugs that could cause individuals to pass out, enabling kidnappings, robberies, or worse.

Below is a message going viral on WhatsApp.

These messages were viral on Facebook also.

We decided to do a fact-check on this.

Fact Check

No Police Reports or Complaints: The Sri Lankan Police Media Unit has officially stated that there have been no reports or complaints related to such incidents. The police encourage citizens to rely on official information channels and report suspicious activities.

International Hoax: Similar stories have circulated in various countries, with only the country's name changed in the narrative. Fact-checking organizations from the USA to neighboring India have debunked these claims, stating there is no factual basis for such allegations. International Fact Checks about this can be read here and here | Archived & Archived

Furthermore, we found that the same message, which is currently making rounds in Sri Lanka, was shared a few years back as well. Here is a such a hoax message from 2019. Archived

No Verified Instances: Despite several stories going viral each year about people passing out or experiencing overdose-like side effects simply from fentanyl exposure with dollar bills, etc., there are no verified instances of individuals falling victim to the described scam.

In an interview with Reuters, Dr. Ryan Marino, medical director of toxicology and addiction at University Hospitals, Cleveland, said you cannot overdose from fentanyl simply from exposure.

“You cannot overdose just by touching fentanyl or another opioid, and you cannot overdose just by being around it,” said Dr Ryan Marino, medical director of Toxicology & Addiction at University Hospitals, Cleveland. “It will not get into the air and cause anyone to overdose.”

Follow us and stay up to date with our latest fact checks.

Facebook | Twitter |Instagram | Google News | TikTok

Conclusion

The claims of a perfume-related kidnapping scam in Sri Lanka are baseless and lack any substantiated evidence. The story appears to be a recurring hoax that fact-checkers have debunked internationally. Citizens should exercise caution and verify information before sharing such messages on social media.