Authorities in the Boston area are issuing warnings about a distressing kidnapping and ransom phone scam that has recently targeted several parents and relatives. This scam involves unsuspecting family members receiving fraudulent phone calls, during which they are falsely informed that their child has been kidnapped and a ransom is demanded for their release. The Boston Police Department highlighted this alarming trend in a press release, noting that during these calls, the sound of children crying can be heard in the background, a manipulative tactic employed by scammers to lend credibility to their false claims.
Should you find yourself on the receiving end of a call mirroring the description above, the following steps are strongly recommended:
1. Immediately get in touch with the police.
2. Attempt to reach the child mentioned in the call through established communication methods to verify their safety.
3. Request specific details from the caller regarding the supposed location of the family member.
4. Ask the caller to describe the family member physically, to ascertain if they can provide accurate details that might verify or refute their claim.
5. Note down the caller’s phone number and report it to the authorities.
Furthermore, the police urge anyone who has been targeted by such kidnapping scams to report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), regardless of whether they were deceived by the scam. This can be done by calling 1-877-382-4357 or visiting the FTC’s website at http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/scam-alerts. Reporting these incidents can help in the fight against such fraudulent activities and protect others from falling victim.