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Phony Pokemon Go Police Are Apparently Handing Out Citations To Players
People for trouble and make it double, Huntington Beach. A couple of real heroes down have reportedly appointed themselves the Pokemon Go police. Their uniform: a couple construction safety vests. Their mission: to hand out phony citations to people playing games on their phones.
According to KTLA, a witness spotted two men who called themselves the Pokemon GO safety patrol in a park, pestering Pokemon Go players. The witness spotted one 'patrol officer' handing a citation to a player who responded by crumpling the paper up and tossing it on the ground. The witness snatched up the paper, unfolded it and revealed its contents.
The note cited "neighborhood ordinance 465.b (Excessive Pokemon Go gameplay)" which certainly sounds like a real thing and requested that players delete the app from their phones in front of an officer, or else face getting their phones confiscated or a fine. The notice also asked the players to fill out a form with their driver's license and social security number.
Self-Proclaimed '#Pokemon Go' Safety Patrol Hands Out Fraudulent Citations in Huntington Beach https://t.co/NwWaOWbq3k via @ktla
— LAPD Communications Division (@911LAPD) July 21, 2016
Now most people would not fall for this scam or joke, as it sounds more like a plan concocted by Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale than actual human beings. However, many Pokemon Go players are children or teens who may not be as streetwise as older players. Also, why are grown men pestering teenagers in the first place? Is Team Rocket real? Are they Team Rocket?
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Huntington Beach Police told KTLA they were unaware of these safety officers and had received no reports thus far.
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