The Paris Police Department has received two calls for service this morning regarding a particularly horrible scam attempt. This scam has been reported in other cities as ‘virtual kidnapping’ and has been around for many years. The fact that two of our citizens received calls this morning indicates this scammer is working our area.
In both calls this morning, the recipients were elderly and reported that a male called and tells the victim that their daughter has been kidnapped. The victim can hear a female screaming in the background in the call. The caller starts demanding money and warning the victim against calling the police. The calls appear to originate out of Mexico. Both victims contacted their families and had others looking for the other family members to check their welfare.
Virtual kidnapping has been reported as happening when scammers research people on social media and find phone numbers. They “spoof” a number of a person the victim knows so it appears that person is calling. Spoofing occurs when a scammer changes caller ID information to hide their identity and make it seem as if the call is coming from a person the victim knows. Then the person alleges they are holding the loved one and demand ransom.
To be on the safe side, a person receiving this type of call should attempt contact with the person supposedly held or demand other proof that the person is being held.
