NEWS RELEASE
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INCIDENT: |
Phone Scam Alert |
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DATE/TIME: |
August 1, 2018 |
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VICTIM(S): |
Undisclosed Oxnard Resident |
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SUSPECT(S): |
Unknown |
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PREPARED BY: |
Sergeant Mike Gregson |
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CONTACT PERSON AND CONTACT INFO: |
Sergeant Luis Mancha (805) 385-7632 |
DETAILS:
The Oxnard Police Department would like to increase the public’s awareness of a “kidnapping” scam that is occurring and is designed to extort money.
On August 1, 2018, a kidnapping scam occurred in Oxnard. The victim received a call on her cell phone from an unknown telephone number and heard a hysterical female screaming that she had been in a traffic accident. The victim was convinced the voice was her daughter’s voice. A male subject then got on the phone and said that her daughter was being held against her will and demanded a wire transfer of money to gain her release. The man demanded the victim remain on the cell phone and drive to a local Walmart where the victim was instructed to wire money to Mexico. The man continued to threaten harm to the victim’s daughter to prevent the victim from alerting the police. The man demanded that several wire transfers be made from various stores in increments of less than $1000 to avoid suspicion. Officers actively investigated the matter as a possible kidnapping and eventually located a family member of the victim at a local Walmart, as she was in the process of wiring additional funds to the purported kidnappers, at which time it was discovered that it was a hoax.
The Oxnard Police Department would like to remind everyone to be suspicious of any telephone call where the caller imposes a problem or crisis and the only solution is electronically transferring money or purchasing prepaid gift cards. If you receive a suspicious phone call of this nature, you are encouraged to report it to law enforcement. These fraudulent schemes can be prevented by remaining well informed, so please share this information with your friends, family, and neighbors.
The FBI provides the following prevention tips:
To avoid becoming a victim of this extortion scheme, look for the following possible indicators:
- Incoming calls come from an outside area code
- Calls do not come from the injured or kidnapped victim’s phone
- Callers go to great lengths to keep you on the phone
- Callers prevent you from calling or locating the “kidnapped” victim
- Ransom money is only accepted via wire transfer service
If you receive a phone call from someone who demands payment of a ransom for a kidnapped victim, the following should be considered:
- Try to slow the situation down. Request to speak to the victim directly. Ask, “How do I know my loved one is okay?”
- If they don’t let you speak to the victim, ask them to describe the victim or describe the vehicle they drive, if applicable.
- Listen carefully to the voice of the kidnapped victim if they speak.
- Attempt to call, text, or contact the victim via social media. Request that the victim call back from his or her cell phone.
- While staying on the line with alleged kidnappers, try to call the alleged kidnap victim from another phone.
- To buy time, repeat the caller’s request and tell them you are writing down the demand, or tell the caller you need time to get things moving.
- Don’t directly challenge or argue with the caller. Keep your voice low and steady.
- Request the kidnapped victim call back from his/her cell phone.
DATE / TIME PREPARED: 8/1/18, 10:30 p.m.