Some people are really evil :(

[SandiR]

I'm really upset and shaken up.

I probably shouldn't get into specific details about what happened to me today, but the gist of it is that someone called me, told me they had beaten and kidnapped one of my family members, and demanded money for that person's release. It was a scam. The person is fine. I had to give a police report over this.

I just can't believe what some people can do and still live with themselves.

 

[bbak30]

omg that's terrible.

 

[robinb]

Apparently Virtual Kidnapping is really on the rise. How scary to have it happen to you! Thanks for the PSA.

http://www.cnbc.com/2015/07/09/the-new-virtual-kidnapping-craze.html

https://www.fbi.gov/newyork/press-r...utm_source=fbi-in-the-news&utm_content=393009

 

[Mizzoufan]

Very scary!

 

[Dawnlight]

I had this happen a while back, but the person made the mistake of saying that they had my father- someone who was never in my life and died years ago- so I knew something wasn't right.

While there are evil people in the world, they are just small insignificant drops in an otherwise ocean full of goodness.

 

[THEDISNEYTHREE]

That is just awful!

 

[mjkacmom]

My FIL got a similar call twice (Mexican prison with the name of his grandchild). He actually paid the first time, was smarter the second time. Happened to my aunt, but she didn't fall for it. It's a pretty common scam.

 

[jdb in AZ]

OP, how did you find out it was a scam?

 

[Patch'sD]

Yes, They call my 90 year old mother with this and of course the Windows Corp. Scam also.

 

[Meriweather]

That is horrible and scary.

 

[Hrhpd]

I'm really upset and shaken up.

I probably shouldn't get into specific details about what happened to me today, but the gist of it is that someone called me, told me they had beaten and kidnapped one of my family members, and demanded money for that person's release. It was a scam. The person is fine. I had to give a police report over this.

I just can't believe what some people can do and still live with themselves.

How scary. Thank goodness you recognized it as a scam.

 

[jen73]

was it an unknown number? or what number came up on the caller id? How crazy and scary!! Glad it was just a scam

 

[mamamary]

I know about two years ago my mom got a call that her granddaughter was in jail and needed money. She knew the call wasn't real but it reAlly threw her off and she called all her kids that have daughters just to make sure everyone was okay

 

[SandiR]

It was a local number, so I picked up.

I guess it doesn't matter if I say - they said they had my husband. I had my son call him from another phone while I was talking to the "kidnapper". My husband picked up the phone, thank goodness, so we knew it was a scam. The guys I was talking to were very scary and the fact that it was a local number is even scarier.

 

[joyjanet]

Yes, They call my 90 year old mother with this and of course the Windows Corp. Scam also.

I get the windows scam a lot. I ask them what windows in my house are broken and how do they know this. One time I told the guy I did not have a computer and he told me I should get one. It is always good to play dumb to these people. Then they just hang up on you. Too bad some people fall for these scams.

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

It was a local number, so I picked up.

I guess it doesn't matter if I say - they said they had my husband. I had my son call him from another phone while I was talking to the "kidnapper". My husband picked up the phone, thank goodness, so we knew it was a scam. The guys I was talking to were very scary and the fact that it was a local number is even scarier.

A number can be easily spoofed to look like it is local to the number they were calling (yours). I doubt they are local to you but I suppose anything is possible.

 

[MickeySP]

This is a very very common scam. Just like the Nigerian BFs on dating sites or the you won a billion dollars.

Prisons are full of evil people.

 

[minniecarousel]

A few months ago, someone called and said "grandpa?". Nice try - didn't know my voice was that low! He said Grandma!, I said none of my grandkids were old enough to use a phone. Then the young-sounding man said, it's me mom, your son! It didn't sound like him, but he went on an elaborate thing about rear-ending someone who was texting, he was in the hospital, but wasn't seriously hurt. His insurance company had sent over a lawyer & he needs bail $$$. I listened to all this & asked what city he was in - gee, that ended the call. Had me going & I called son just to make sure he was OK!

OP - that sounds so scary!

 

[tazdev3225]

This scam has gone on for years. My mother got a call that someone had me when I was in high school in the '70s. I received a call shortly after my DH began working in the prisons as a corrections officer. That one spooked me a bit as we had a baby and he had me up all night so I was sleeping when my DH left for work. I had to make a police report so it could be investigated. Turned out to be an inmate that had an issue with my husband and we have an unusual last name so he could look up the number in a phone book. It is really scary now what people can access over the internet.

 

[ashley0139]

This scam has gone on for years. My mother got a call that someone had me when I was in high school in the '70s. I received a call shortly after my DH began working in the prisons as a corrections officer. That one spooked me a bit as we had a baby and he had me up all night so I was sleeping when my DH left for work. I had to make a police report so it could be investigated. Turned out to be an inmate that had an issue with my husband and we have an unusual last name so he could look up the number in a phone book. It is really scary now what people can access over the internet.

Yours is scarier because it's personal. Most of these are a shot in the dark and hoping one hits, but that one was targeted to you. Scary.