CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV) - The Chatham County Police Department (CCPD) is warning the public about a phone scam where victims are asked to pay a ransom to secure the release of a kidnapped relative.
CCPD officials say they have received two reports of individuals being targets of the scam in Chatham County. Both received phone calls saying a family member had been kidnapped, and demanding a ransom.
Officers are saying the call appears real due to the fact that the suspects are believed to be hacking into victims’ cell phones and accessing their contact list. This allows them to spoof the number, making it appear that the ransom call is actually coming from a loved one’s phone.
CCPD says the first step if you receive one of these calls is to phone the person believed to have been kidnapped. The individual will likely have no knowledge of the scam or that there phone number had been duplicated.
Under no circumstances should you follow any instructions by the caller to give them your bank account, debit or credit card information. You should also not agree to drop cash or gift cards at a specified location.
It is highly unlikely that your loved one has been kidnapped, and asking specific questions including your loved one’s date of birth, physical description and clothing description will likely result in the scammer ending the call.
According to CCPD, to protect numbers in your phone contact list from being spoofed, do not open any links on your phone sent to you by someone you don’t know.