Santa Cruz Police received three reports over the weekend from distraught community members. Victims reported they had received calls from someone claiming to have kidnapped a family member and demanding cash for their safe return. This phone scam attempts to convince the victim to send money despite no actual kidnapping taking place.
All three of the calls were suspiciously very similar. The community member answers the telephone and immediately hears either a baby crying or a female adult crying. A male voice calls the victim by either their first or last name. The male then says, “This is a kidnapping listen to my instructions. We are holding your family members hostage.” or “Send me money or you will never see your family members again.”
Anyone who receives a similar call is urged to call 911 and should try to get in touch with their family member to determine whether the call is legitimate.
SCPD Police says this phone scam is a variation of what’s come to be called the “Virtual Kidnapping Scam.” The FBI has this advice to avoid being victimized by this or similar scams:
- Resist the pressure to act quickly.
- Try to contact your family member to determine whether or not the call is legitimate.
- Never wire money based on a request made over the phone or in an email, especially overseas. Wiring money is like giving cash—once you send it, you can’t get it back.
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Anonymous tips can also be sent to the Santa Cruz Police Department at (831) 420-5995, or to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Department at 454-7631. SCPD Website; www.santacruzpolice.com SCCSD Website www.scsheriff.com