It's a scary text message scenario similar to many striking the area. The most recent cases have reported in Ossining, Irvington and now Tarrytown.
A 911 caller on June 24 at 4:32 p.m. told Tarrytown police that she had received a suspicious text. The message said that a family member had been in an accident.
When the recipient called the number back a man answered who asked if the person had a brother. She said yes and he said that her brother had struck the man's car and now he and his friends were holding the brother against his will. He said they would hurt the brother if she didn't comply with his demand to go to an AT&T store and get a pre-paid debit card for $1,200.
The man would meet her to get the card. He said she must stay on the line with him and not call anyone.
Meanwhile, she had a coworker call her brother while she stayed on the line. The coworker reached the brother who was fine and had been home all day.
The caller said she then hung up and has not had contact with the man since.
Police advised the caller to keep any records of further communications she receives and the detective division would further investigate.
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