In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell made the first known phone call in which he uttered, “Mr. Watson, come here — I want to see you.”
Chances are, the first phone scam occurred shortly thereafter.
A newer scam that has made its way to Sedona is a bit more brazen than the recent APS or court warrant scams. It’s known as virtual kidnapping.
On Sunday, Dec. 15, a Sedona woman received a call stating that her adult daughter had been kidnapped and that she needed to send $500 to have her released.
“The caller will claim to have kidnapped your family member and demand a ransom,” Sgt. Michael Dominguez of the Sedona Police Department said. “The scammers are hoping for your emotional response to comply with their demands. Please contact your family member before succumbing to any demands.”
In the scam that took place on Sunday, Dominguez said the mother could hear loud noises in the background as if it were her daughter arguing with her kidnappers. The caller did not state how the money had to be paid, he said.
“Luckily, the daughter was home and it was determined she was safe,” Dominguez said. “With something like this, the person receiving the call has to think of the likelihood of a family member being kidnapped for ransom. They should hang up and call that family member immediately and then law enforcement. These calls are intended to prey upon someone’s fears and emotions right then and there.”
In 2018, the FBI issued a warning in regard to virtual kidnapping.
“Unlike traditional abductions, virtual kidnappers have not actually kidnapped anyone,” the warning stated. “Instead, through deceptions and threats, they coerce victims to pay a quick ransom before the scheme falls apart.”
The perpetrators of these crimes are becoming more sophisticated, the FBI stated. They are using social media and social engineering to dupe people into thinking their loved ones have been kidnapped.
In a pair of New Mexico cases, the scammers attempted to keep victims on the phone so they could not verify their loved ones’ whereabouts or contact law enforcement.
“If you do engage the caller, do not disclose your loved one’s name or provide any identifying information,” the FBI stated. “Try to slow the situation down. The success of any type of virtual kidnapping scheme depends on speed and fear. Criminals know they only have a short time to extract a ransom before the victims unravel the scam or authorities become involved.”
The FBI also suggests to:
- Request to speak to your family member directly. Ask: “How do I know my loved one is OK?”
- Ask questions only the alleged kidnap victim would know, such as the name of a pet. Avoid sharing information about yourself or your family.
- Listen carefully to the voice of the alleged victim if they speak. Often it is someone posing as the kidnap victim.
- To buy time, repeat the caller’s request and tell them you are writing down the demand, or tell the caller you need more time.
- Do not agree to pay a ransom, by wire or in person. Delivering money in person can be dangerous.
- If you suspect a real kidnapping is taking place or you believe a ransom demand is a scheme, contact your nearest FBI office or local law enforcement immediately.
