A viral message about police planting drugs in a car under the pretext of inspecting the trunk is a hoax. The message viral on Facebook and WhatsApp claims such incidents allegedly happened in Delhi and Mumbai.
The message which is in first person narrates an incident wherein a policeman asked a car driver to stop his vehicle and under the pretext of checking the car trunk drops "two small zip-lock pouches with white crystals" inside the trunk.
The message further warns the readers to not open their car trunk anywhere without personal supervision.
The message states, "Please don’t open your car trunk from inside, for anyone, even at Malls. Always get-off, take yur car-keys in hand and open the trunk with keys and permit searching under your own supervision."
Many have shared it on Facebook in a bid to warn people.
Viral hoax message claiming policemen plant drugs while checking trunk
While one message claims the incident happened in Malad area in Mumbai, Maharashtra the other is doing the rounds as a warning issued by the Delhi police.
The same message is viral on WhatsApp as a warning from Delhi police
FACT CHECK
BOOM looked for the message online and found that the post started cropping up on various social media platforms a few weeks ago. The message is being circulated in Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines and was also published on a Philippines based news website The Daily Sentry which later deleted it. (Click here for the cached version)
Another Facebook page 'Alert Wanted 305' also posted it on November 4 stating, "Original post from sir Wayne: I saw this on one of the other car groups that I am in. Thought I'd share just incase bagong modus to" and then continued with the message. The post received more than three thousand shared and 300 comments.
The posts viral in India, Malaysia and Philippines have changed the name of the location where the alleged incident happened. While the one in India claims it happened in Malad, Mumbai the Malaysian claims the location as "star gate towards old terminal"
The two viral messages with slight difference
BOOM has also contacted the Delhi police and Mumbai police for a comment but is yet to receive a reply. The story will be updated with their comments.