As unlikely as it is to happen, every parent can imagine the horror and helplessness they would feel if they discovered their child had been kidnapped. The rush of emotions you’d experience—especially if you received a call from your child begging you for help—might overwhelm you, leading you to act rashly and do whatever it took to get them back. And that’s just what the engineers of a new “virtual kidnapping” scam are counting on.
Here’s what you need to know about “virtual kidnapping” schemes, including how to spot one before you become a victim.
How does the“virtual kidnapping” ransom scam work?
According to the Los Angeles Times, the perpetrators of these schemes will call parents and attempt to get them to believe their child has been abducted, and demand an immediate ransom payment. All the while, the child is still safe at school or with the babysitter—but the scammers are hoping you don’t find that out until after you’ve paid up.
As FBI agent Erik Arbuthnot told the LA Times, this scam usually originates with inmates in foreign prisons. The scammers will simply cold call Americans, hoping to land on a person with kids.
When your phone rings, you’ll hear a child screaming something like “Mommy, daddy, help me!” The scammers are hoping you’ll say your child’s name, so they can use it to play along. The “kidnapper” will then tell you the horrible things they’ll do to your child if you don’t…
