The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is alerting the public to a new scam involving QR codes that appear in online posts related to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie.

In a statement released Tuesday, officials said they have detected posts circulating on social media that include QR codes requesting money under the guise of being connected to the investigation. The department stressed it will never ask for donations or payments in any case.

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“The Pima County Sheriff’s Department is aware of posts circulating about the Guthrie Investigation that include a QR code requesting money,” the statement read. “PCSD will never ask for money related to this case, or any investigation.”

Authorities urged the public not to scan suspicious QR codes or send money to strangers. The warning comes as the case remains unsolved more than five months after Guthrie was taken from her Tucson home in the early morning hours of Feb. 1. No suspects have been named, and no arrests have been made.

This is not the first time scammers have tried to exploit the Guthrie case. In February, the FBI arrested Derrick Anthony Callella after discovering he had sent fake ransom notes to Guthrie’s daughter, Annie Guthrie, and son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni. Callella faces two counts of harassment using a telecommunications device.

The sheriff’s department is asking anyone who encounters a QR code or other solicitation related to the case to report it immediately rather than engage. Officials emphasized that legitimate investigative updates are shared only through official channels.

The case has drawn national attention due to Savannah Guthrie’s prominence, but local law enforcement has provided few public updates. The lack of progress has frustrated family members and fueled speculation online, which scammers are now exploiting.

As the investigation drags on, officials continue to urge the public to rely on verified information from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department and avoid sharing unconfirmed details that could hinder the probe or lead to financial fraud.