New Phone Scam Uses Kidnapping Ruse, Threat of Execution

The latest scam to target Swampscott residents involves a scenario where caller say they need a ransom payment to free a relative being held hostage.

Swampscott police said the latest scam emerged when officers were called to Stop and Shop on Wednesday by someone at the customer service desk.

A Swampscott resident had received a phone call from a Spanish male party telling her that he was holding her brother hostage at gun point after getting into a car accident with him out of the area.

The male caller told the Swampscott resident she needed to pay a ransom for her brother’s release or the male caller was going to execute her brother, according to police.

At first, the caller demanded $3,000 but later said he would take $1,000, police said. The resident was told to send the money via Western Union and stay on the phone until the transaction was complete, police said.

Swampscott police officers explained the scam to the resident and then located a family member, who in turn verified that her brother was OK.

Police said the resident did not complete the money transfer after police got involved.

“Keep in mind the other types of scams out there,” police warned in a townwide alert. “Recently, individuals have said they are from the IRS and the caller would be arrested for back taxes by the local police.

If residents receive suspicious calls, Swampscott police recommend you hang up and call them at 781-595-1111.