WEST VIRGINIA (LOOTPRESS) – A troubling trend is emerging on Facebook, where scammers are stealing photos, videos, and posts about West Virginia to pass them off as their own in popular Facebook groups.
Content creators who share their work in legitimate Facebook groups are finding their images and stories reposted without credit by fake profiles in scam groups.
These groups, often disguised as communities for West Virginia history and scenery enthusiasts, are being used to mislead users and, in some cases, promote fraudulent merchandise.
Content Theft and Fake Profiles
One such group, “West Virginia History,” with over 50,000 members, has been caught stealing photos from various West Virginia photographers and reposting them as if they were their own.
Some of these groups even use AI-generated images or photos of locations that are not in West Virginia at all.
The administrators and moderators behind these groups frequently operate under fake profiles, often using stolen profile pictures from real users.
Many of these profiles are locked down to prevent further scrutiny.
Recently, a local content creator in Fayette County had his profile picture stolen and used to create a fake account that has been posting images of southern West Virginia in one of these fraudulent groups.
Similarly, the author of this article had a personal photograph—a CSX coal train in the snow at Thurmond—taken and reposted in the “West Virginia Memories”group, complete with the original caption copied word for word.
Motives Behind the Scam
These fraudulent groups leverage engagement to further their schemes.
Some use their large followings to push scam links for fake West Virginia-themed merchandise, attempting to collect personal information from unsuspecting users.
While it is unclear if the operators of these groups are profiting directly from Facebook monetization programs, the platform does offer opportunities for users to earn revenue based on engagement.
It also remains uncertain whether the individuals behind these groups are located in the United States or operating from overseas.
List of Suspect Facebook Groups
Several Facebook groups have been repeatedly flagged for stealing content. Some share similar names and administrators, raising further concerns about their legitimacy:
- West Virginia History – 50,000 members
- West Virginia Memories – 9,200 members
- West Virginia History – 441 members
- History of West Virginia – 11,600 members
- I Grew Up in West Virginia – 135,700 members
- Life in West Virginia – 77,700 members
- Growing Up in West Virginia – 46,700 members
- West Virginia Born & Raised – 59,100 members
- I Love West Virginia – 22,400 members
- I Grew Up in West Virginia – 13,500 members
Users are urged to be cautious when engaging with Facebook groups that frequently repost content without credit.
If you suspect a group of stealing content or running a scam, consider reporting it to Facebook.
