Des Moines police and Des Moines Public Schools said in news releases Thursday that thieves are targeting Iowans with a phone scam about kidnappings.According to police, people in Des Moines and surrounding communities have been the targets of thieves placing phone calls in an attempt to extort money from them.Police said the caller tells the victim that they have kidnapped a family member and then demands ransom money.Police in Urbandale warned of the same scam earlier this week."They're threatening a family member's life by saying, ‘pay this money otherwise we’re going to kill a family member,’” Urbandale Police Sgt. Chad Underwood said.In several cases, police said victims wired the money thinking they were saving a loved one."Some people have taken the bait and wired some pretty substantial sums of money to the suspects in these crimes,” Des Moines police Sgt. Paul Parizek said. Suspects are difficult to track since they call on blocked numbers set up to not detect who they are. "This is just how people commit crimes now,” Parizek said. “Anyone can be a tough guy on other end of a phone or behind a computer."Police said that while kidnappings are rare, anyone who receives a scam call should tale the call seriously and reported to police immediately. Scam victims are advised not to resolve the calls by themselves and not to send money to the caller. Instead, victims should gather as much information about the caller as they can, attempt to locate the friend or family member who is allegedly kidnapped and call the police.Des Moines Public Schools said, in part, "If you receive a call from a person making this claim, write down the caller ID number, contact police, and provide as much information about the call as you can. "If you receive this call during school hours and want to verify your student is safe at school, you are welcome to call your school office.”Des Moines police are asking everyone to help share this information.