Flint Township View

Fake holiday events promoted on social media


GRAND BLANC TWP. — As the colors start to change it means only one thing, the countdown to Christmas has begun.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions being eased, Grand Blanc Parks and Recreation (GB Parks) is excited to bring back their Holiday Tree Lighting this December.

The Grand Blanc Township Tree Lighting, presented by ELGA Credit Union, will be the premier holiday event, said Patrick Linihan, parks and recreation director.

Details for this event will be forthcoming in the next few weeks but mark your calendars for Friday, Dec. 3. As such, the township will not host a holiday drive-through at Creasey Bicentennial Park, Linihan said. “Unfortunately, the fake event from last year and some new events promising a holiday drive through are circulating on Facebook again,” he said in a press release. “We ask that people make sure that any event is hosted by Grand Blanc Parks and Recreation or Grand Blanc Township, Michigan.”

One event promises an online feature where they can view online and credit card information is scammed. If an event does not list the department or township, odds are it is fake.

“One event shows the pages origins in Bangladesh, a big give away,” Linihan noted.

Attempts to report these events to Facebook as a scam or fake have once again been unsuccessful.

“We ask that if you see your Facebook friends sharing or liking the events that you pass along that they are fake,” he said. — L.R.