INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indianapolis police are warning social media users about inaccurate posts circulating about a missing police officer in central Indiana.

Posts revolve around Ofc. Jonathan Diller, an NYPD officer who was “reported missing” on the morning of an unspecified date.

Every post reads the same, most commonly distributed to local yard sale or thrift groups. They warn the public to look for Diller.

One of the fake posts shared to a Greenwood yard sale group on Facebook says Diller went missing in “#Greenwood” Friday morning. “His truck was found last night with his son inside, but unfortunately there is still no sign of him,” it said. The post goes on to give Diller’s physical description and says a silver alert has been issued.

The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department warns that these posts are fake because Ofc. Diller, 31, was killed in the line of duty on March 25, 2024, while conducting a traffic stop in Queens.

Conformable NYPDDiller and several other officers approached a vehicle illegally parked at a bus stop.

Those inside the car refused to move or get out of the car, and investigators soon learned the men in the vehicle had previous arrests. The driver was out on bond at the time, police said.

Suddenly, the passenger in the car pulled out a gun and shot Diller in the stomach, under his bulletproof vest. Another officer fired his weapon, striking the passenger in the back.

Diller was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery, but died from his injuries. He is survived by his parents, Fran and Steven; his wife, Stephanie; and his 1-year-old son Ryan.

The shooter, identified as Guy Rivera, was arrested and charged with Diller’s murder.

According to one report by MalwareTipsan online blog that reports on cyber threats and online fraud, these types of posts are “calculated scams” designed to generate shares and reactions.

“By using Diller’s name/photo along with an emotional story, scammers aim to trigger an instinctive urge to share and help. But the real reason is to gain visibility and traffic, not to find a missing person,” said MalwareTips.

These posts are not specific to Indiana – they have been shared with many similar groups in the United States and other countries. Some locations include Middletown and Youngstown, Ohio; Washington DC; Surry and Duplin counties in North Carolina; and even Edinburgh, Scotland.

IMPD says to honor Diller’s memory and not distract from legitimate missing persons information, anyone who sees the fake posts should report them.

“(Ofc. Diller) tragically lost his life in the line of duty in March of this year,” IMPD said. “Please do not share these inaccurate posts. Instead, please report them as false information to ensure fair and respectful online communication.”

If anyone sees these posts but isn’t sure how to report them, visit Facebook guidelines on content reporting.