WEBVTT IN A GRIFFIN EXPLAINS HOW THE SCAM WORKS AND HOW YOU CAN PROTECT YOURSELF. DANA IT IS THE CALL PARENTS HOPE THEY WILL NEVER GET, A KIDNAPPER WANTING TO RANSOM FOR THE SAFE RETURN OF THEIR CHILD. >> REGARDING YOUR DAUGHTER, SON, KIDS, IT YOU CAN JUST LOSE IT. YOUR BRAIN OF MY NOT WORK. YOU MIGHT THINK, I HAVE TO SAVE MY CHILD. DANA: THAT COST COMES WITH NO RETURN BECAUSE IT IS A SCAM. POLICE ISSUED A WARNING ABOUT THE SCAM. SHE CLAIMED SHE HAD BEEN KIDNAPPED. THE WOMAN BELIEVED HER DAUGHTER WAS ON THE PHONE, THEN A MAN GOT ON THE CALL, ORDERING THE WOMAN TO WIRE MONEY TO MEXICO. HE SAID HE WOULD HARM HER DAUGHTER IF SHE DID NOT. >> THE FIRST THING THAT CAME TO MY MIND, WHATEVER IT TAKES TO SAVE MY DAUGHTER BECAUSE MY MIND WAS NOT WORKING AT THAT MOMENT. DANA: THE MOTHER BE ALLIES SHE HAD BEEN DUPED. FOLSOM POLICE HAVE GONE REPORTS OF SIMILAR CALLS. IF ANYONE ASKS YOU TO IMMEDIATELY WIRE MONEY OR BY GIFT CARDS AND SEND THEM KNOW NUMBERS, IT IS ALMOST CERTAINLY A SCAM. >> WHAT DO YOU DO IN THAT SITUATION? >> I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE, RIGHT? TO SAVE MY CHILD, I PROBABLY WILL GO AHEAD AND HELP. >> YOU WOULD PAY THEM? IT IS PROBABLY A SENSE OF DESPERATION, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THE CHILD IS COMING BACK HOME JUST BECAUSE YOU SEND THE MONEY. YOU HAVE TO TRUST YOUR HEART AND INSTINCT. DANA: CALL POLICE FIRST.
Fake kidnapping scams on the rise; Here's how to protect yourself
Beware of incoming calls from unknown area codes, warns the FBI
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Updated: 10:51 AM CST Mar 10, 2017
Fake kidnapping scams are on the rise, where fraudsters demand money from victims in exchange for the return of their loved ones via phone call. The catch? No one has actually been kidnapped, and the ransom demand is completely bogus.
This type of scheme is re-emerging across the nation, according to the FTC Friday. A 65-year-old Washington man was targeted earlier this week when he was told that his 23-year-old daughter had been kidnapped. A caller demanded $30,000, threatening to leave the woman "on the side of a road with a bullet hole in her" if the money wasn't paid. The man even told police he could hear a woman crying in the background, but his daughter was completely safe and unaware of the kidnapping.
"Callers...will typically provide the victim with specific instructions to ensure safe 'return' of the allegedly kidnapped individual," the FBI said. "These instructions usually involve demands of a ransom payment. Most schemes use various techniques to instill a sense of fear, panic, and urgency in an effort to rush the victim into making a very hasty decision. Instructions usually require the ransom payment be made immediately and typically by wire transfer."
There are a few ways to detect a fake kidnapping scam, according to the federal agency:
Incoming calls come from an outside area codeCalls do not come from the kidnapped victim’s phoneCallers go to great lengths to keep you on the phoneCallers prevent you from calling or locating the “kidnapped” victimRansom money is only accepted via wire transfer service
Anyone who believes that he or she has been targeted in a fake kidnapping scam should follow this protocol:
Try to slow the situation down. Request to speak to the victim directly. Ask, “How do I know my loved one is okay?”If they don’t let you speak to the victim, ask them to describe the victim or their vehicleListen carefully to the voice of the kidnapped victim if they speakAttempt to call, text, or contact the victim via social mediaWhile staying on the line with alleged kidnappers, try to call the alleged kidnap victim from another phoneTo buy time, repeat the caller’s request and tell them you are writing down the demand, or tell the caller you need time to get things movingDon’t directly challenge or argue with the callerRequest the kidnapped victim call back from his/her cell phone
Complaints can be filed with the FTC here.
Fake kidnapping scams are on the rise, where fraudsters demand money from victims in exchange for the return of their loved ones via phone call. The catch? No one has actually been kidnapped, and the ransom demand is completely bogus.
This type of scheme is re-emerging across the nation, according to the FTC Friday. A 65-year-old Washington man was targeted earlier this week when he was told that his 23-year-old daughter had been kidnapped. A caller demanded $30,000, threatening to leave the woman "on the side of a road with a bullet hole in her" if the money wasn't paid. The man even told police he could hear a woman crying in the background, but his daughter was completely safe and unaware of the kidnapping.
"Callers...will typically provide the victim with specific instructions to ensure safe 'return' of the allegedly kidnapped individual," the FBI said. "These instructions usually involve demands of a ransom payment. Most schemes use various techniques to instill a sense of fear, panic, and urgency in an effort to rush the victim into making a very hasty decision. Instructions usually require the ransom payment be made immediately and typically by wire transfer."
There are a few ways to detect a fake kidnapping scam, according to the federal agency:
- Incoming calls come from an outside area code
- Calls do not come from the kidnapped victim’s phone
- Callers go to great lengths to keep you on the phone
- Callers prevent you from calling or locating the “kidnapped” victim
- Ransom money is only accepted via wire transfer service
Anyone who believes that he or she has been targeted in a fake kidnapping scam should follow this protocol:
- Try to slow the situation down. Request to speak to the victim directly. Ask, “How do I know my loved one is okay?”
- If they don’t let you speak to the victim, ask them to describe the victim or their vehicle
- Listen carefully to the voice of the kidnapped victim if they speak
- Attempt to call, text, or contact the victim via social media
- While staying on the line with alleged kidnappers, try to call the alleged kidnap victim from another phone
- To buy time, repeat the caller’s request and tell them you are writing down the demand, or tell the caller you need time to get things moving
- Don’t directly challenge or argue with the caller
- Request the kidnapped victim call back from his/her cell phone
Complaints can be filed with the FTC here.
