School District Warns Of 'Virtual Kidnapping Extortion Call' Scams

PEEKSKILL, NY — The Peekskill Central School District is warning families about a disturbing high-tech scheme to convince victims that their loved ones have been kidnapped.

At least two families in the district have received these terrifying calls. Similar extortion schemes have been reported across the country.

See Also:

• Convicted Killer Sentenced In Virtual Kidnapping Scam
• FBI Warns Of Virtual Kidnapping Schemes Terrorizing LA
• Virtual Kidnapping Extortion Calls Are On The Rise
• Horrifying Virtual Kidnapping Targets Central Coast Family

"To help prevent this scam, remember to check privacy settings on social media accounts and revisit the information you publicize online," Superintendent David Mauricio said in a message to the community. "Also, check what platforms your child is using and what information they are providing. The more information available to the public, the more information scammers can use to convince you into believing a scam is real. As always, the safety and security of our staff and families remains paramount at Peekskill Schools."

You can read the entire Jan. 8 letter from Superintendent David Mauricio below:

Dear Peekskill Families

This message is to inform you that two PCSD families were the recipients of a scam phone call known as a "Virtual Kidnapping Extortion Call." Victims of these scams are getting calls from strangers claiming to have kidnapped their loved ones and demanding that a ransom is paid. The most recent development in these schemes involves the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to replicate family member’s voices in an attempt to convince the victim that the threat is legitimate.

The purpose of sharing this information is to raise awareness about this most recent scheme and equip our school community with the knowledge they need to avoid becoming a victim of this crime.

Both the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National Institute of Health have issued warnings offering the following helpful information:

• If you get this type of call, parents should immediately attempt to contact their child.
• Call your child’s school to confirm that they are in class and safe, or, outside of school hours, call their phone or attempt to reach them at the location they should be to confirm the child is safe.
• Whether you think it's a scam or not, contact law enforcement immediately by calling the Peekskill Police Department at 914-737-8000 or 911.

To avoid becoming a victim of this extortion scheme, look for the following possible indicators

• Calls are usually made from an outside area code
• May involve multiple phone calls
• Calls do not come from the allegedly kidnapped victim's phone
• Callers go to great lengths to keep you on the phone so you cannot verify the safety of your child
• Callers prevent you from calling or locating the "kidnapped" victim
• Ransom money is only accepted via wire transfer service

Please reference these articles Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National Institute of Health on what to do if you receive a phone call from someone who demands payment of a ransom for a kidnapped victim.

To help prevent this scam, remember to check privacy settings on social media accounts and revisit the information you publicize online. Also, check what platforms your child is using and what information they are providing. The more information available to the public, the more information scammers can use to convince you into believing a scam is real. As always, the safety and security of our staff and families remains paramount at Peekskill Schools. We appreciate your attention to this important matter.