MARION, Iowa (KCRG-TV9) -- Marion police are asking people to go to them first with concerns before relying on social media.
This comes after a post went viral about a woman claiming three men were following her at the Marion Walmart. Police looked into it and decided the complaint was unfounded.
Officers say recent publicized events of missing people have put some people on edge. So they don't want social media driving mass hysteria.
"We tell people, if you feel threatened, if something doesn't feel right, if the hair on the back is standing up and you have a gut feeling that something is not right, always call the police department. Unfortunately social media kind of takes off where we hear half-truths, or part of the story," said Tom Daubs.
Marion police say they will look into any incident they're called about.