Social media post making rounds spreading false information about fentanyl on gas pumps

Misrepresented and outright false posts on social media is nothing new, and the latest one making the rounds has the Fox Valley, including Fond du Lac, in it’s crosshairs.

A post on Facebook getting hundreds of shares says “Anyone that drives through the Fox Valley, Oshkosh or Fond du Lac area. Gas pumps have been laced with fentanyl. There was a person here telling us her husband and work buddies had to go to ER and be given Narcan several times. Be careful out there!!”

This post has tell tale signs of being false as no names or specific locations are given.

While some people are spotting this as an internet rumor, with one such post saying “Definitely not true. Drug dealers wouldn’t “waste” their fentanyl on random people. Also, fentanyl toxicity from incidental skin contact is extremely unlikely. Fentanyl needs to enter the bloodstream or mucous membranes to have an effect, and casual contact with a surface would not be sufficient for an overdose.” Others aren’t as quick to recognize this as being fake and they share it. As of 7:45 a.m. Friday morning, August 1, 2025, it’s been shared 400 times in the 19 hours since the post was made.

An AI response from Google when asked about the reports says “There are no credible information or confirmed reports about fentanyl being found on gas pumps in the Fox Valley area. While there have been reports and social media discussions about fentanyl exposure risks at gas stations in other locations, such as Texas and Florida, investigations have not revealed evidence of fentanyl exposure in those instances. Law enforcement officials in those areas have cautioned the public to verify information before relying on it. It is crucial to distinguish between confirmed cases and anecdotal reports or rumors. 

Officials with the Fond du Lac Police Department say they have had no reports of this happening in the City of Fond du Lac.

Both Winnebago and Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office told us they have not responded to, nor are aware of any instances where this has happened in their counties. Fond du Lac County Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt said “My guess is it’s just another hoax.  If we had a legitimate and substantiated complaint of this nature creating a safety concern, we’d certainly be putting something out.”

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