PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia police warned the public about a new phone scam claiming that a loved one has been kidnapped.
In a typical scheme, they said, victims get a call from an unknown number claiming a child or sibling has been abducted. The caller may play audio of a person crying in the background as they demand a financial ransom.
Police have confirmed that no reported cases have involved an actual kidnapping. Instead, they’re designed to frighten victims into giving the caller money.
Authorities urge anyone who gets a call like this not to give out money or personal information. They say you should try and directly contact the person they say has been abducted, and hang up on the scammer and call 911 immediately.