Has the 'Virtual Kidnapping Scam' Hit Santa Cruz Area?

SANTA CRUZ - Santa Cruz police are warning residents to be aware of a kidnapping scam that occurred to three families this weekend, police said.

The victims reported that a person called them to say family members had been kidnapped. The family members would be returned safely only if the victim gave the caller cash. Each call was a hoax because family members who supposedly were kidnapped were found to be safe, police said.

All three calls were similar. A family member answers the phone to hear a baby or woman crying. A male caller calls the victim by their last or first name and says, “This is a kidnapping. Listen to my instructions. We are holding your family members hostage. Send me money or you will never see your family members again.”

Each person who received the call hung up on the caller and found that their family members were safe, police said. Police confirmed that the family members were safe.

Officers who investigated the calls found that they came from blocked or restricted numbers.

Anyone who receives a similar call should call 911 and try to get in touch with their family members to see whether the call is a scam.

SCPD Police believe 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 e-mail, especially overseas. Wiring money is like giving cash—once you send it, you can’t get it back.

You can reach Santa Cruz Police at 831-420-5800.

-Bay City News contributed to this article, image via SCPD