PLEASE BE WARY OF A NEW SCAM CLAIMING THAT A FAMILY MEMBER, USUALLY A CHILD, HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED AND WILL BE RELEASED ONLY WHEN MONEY IS IMMEDIATELY WIRED TO AN ACCOUNT. CRIMINALS MAY CONTACT A PARENT/FAMILY MEMBER VIA PHONE, TEXT, OR EMAIL TO COMMUNICATE THE THREAT.
ALL KIDNAPPING THREATS SHOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND NOT ASSUMED TO BE A SCAM. TO VERIFY THE LEGITIMACY OF SUCH THREATS, LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE WITH IMMEDIATELY CONTACTING THE FAMILY MEMBER WHO IS ALLEGEDLY KIDNAPPED OR THE SCHOOL/WORKPLACE OF THAT FAMILY MEMBER TO DETERMINE HIS/HER SAFETY.
ONCE THE STATUS OF THAT FAMILY MEMBER IS DETERMINED, LAW ENFORCEMENT WILL HAVE MORE ACCURATE INFORMATION TO INVESTIGATE THE THREAT.
PLEASE NOTE THAT CRIMINALS LOOK AT SOCIAL MEDIA SITES SUCH AS FACEBOOK TO FIND OUT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR FAMILY AND FAMILY MEMBERS. THIS INFORMATION CAN INCLUDE FAMILY MEMBERS’ AGES, APPEARANCE, RELATIVES, VEHICLES, FAMILY EVENTS, SCHOOL, ACTIVITIES, AND LOCATION. THEY WILL USE SUCH INFORMATION IN THE THREAT TO MAKE THE THREAT APPEAR CREDIBLE.
PLEASE BE CAREFUL ABOUT SHARING PERSONAL AND FAMILY INFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA SITES.
