Shark warning on social media is fake, officials say

The shark advisory for Newport Beach that has been spreading around social media is not real, officials confirmed Thursday morning.

The fake warning alleges that the shark sightings occurred between 5:30 and 10:15 a.m. Wednesday.

The notice, which was written on phony U.S. Coast Guard letterhead, warned beachgoers that 15- to 18-foot adult sharks were seen off the Newport Pier and Newport Bay entrance near the west jetty, said Newport Beach Lifeguard Battalion Chief Brent Jacobsen.

The notice warns beachgoers to stay out of the water for the next two to three days.

“It’s a complete hoax,” Jacobsen said. “In my career here, I have only seen one great white shark and that was back in 2002.”

The Coast Guard is investigating the origins of the fake notice, Jacobsen said.

“It’s obviously someone with a poor sense of humor,” he said.

— Hannah Fry

Twitter: @HannahFryTCN