Dawson Creek RCMP are cautioning the public after rumours of a home invasion at a rural property near Dawson Creek circulated widely on social media.
Mounties have confirmed despite no such incident occurred.
Police say the rumours stem from an incident in the Arras area involving five individuals.
Investigators say three adults and two children approached a residence claiming they were travelling to Alaska and had run out of money.
According to police, the homeowner offered the group a glass of water, and they followed her inside the home.
Investigators say the woman later gave the individuals money in exchange for what turned out to be fake gold. Police suspect the victim may have felt pressured during the interaction, but emphasize there were no threats, no weapons involved, and no injuries reported.
RCMP say the circumstances do not meet the legal grounds for a home invasion. Instead, the incident is being treated as either a theft or fraud, and their investigation is ongoing.
There has been a number of posts on social media falsely claiming the group demanded the victims valuables. Other posts suggest the individuals are still in the area.
In response, Dawson Creek RCMP are reminding residents living alone in rural areas to take precautions if they notice suspicious activity. Police advise people to lock their doors, call police immediately, and then alert a neighbour.
Mounties are also asking anyone who encounters individuals attempting to sell gold in public to contact their local RCMP detachment.