Two "Virtual Kidnapping Scams" were attempted this weekend in Charlotte County, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office.
A "Virtual Kidnapping Scam" was attempted this weekend here in our county. Popular a few years ago, we'd like to review this scam so that our community is armed with the information to prevent being victimized. https://t.co/h2OJSM6lIU pic.twitter.com/0la1IeP5yB
— Charlotte Sheriff (@CCSOFLSheriff) April 29, 2018
The scammers were armed with information on the subjects. CCSO is alerting the public of how the scam workd to prevent other people from being victimized.
How "Virtual Kidnapping" Works:
- First, you receive a call from an unknown number. The scammer says, “I’ve kidnapped your relative,” and names a brother, sister, child or parent.
- The scammer then demands you to wire transfer money, “or something bad will happen.”
There’s pressure to pay quickly, and the caller says not to contact anyone but authorities want people to know it is all fake.
Scammers scour the internet and social media sites, grabbing information about where people live, work, or travel, and names of friends and family. The cons use the details to pick a target and make their calls sound credible.
If you get a call like this, do not panic. Call authorities immediately.
