Virtual Kidnapping Scam: What Laguna Beach Residents Need To Know

LAGUNA BEACH, CA —Two cases of virtual kidnapping have startled Laguna Beach residents and left officials to warn others that the terrifying phone calls are just a scam, Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Jim Cota says.

On Thursday, March 7, a Laguna Beach resident reported that he was a victim of fraud from a virtual kidnapping.

"The victim received a cell phone call from someone who said he had kidnapped the victim's daughter," Cota said.

The caller wanted $5,000 or "he would kill the girl."

He did not have a chance to hang up, as the caller kept him on the phone and terrified throughout the incident, Cota said.

"Fearful for his daughter when he heard a female scream into the phone that she'd been kidnapped, he went to the bank and withdrew $5,000," Cota said. That money was wire transferred to Mexico in several transactions.

Four hours after the nightmare ordeal began, the victim learned his child was, in fact, fine, and in the city of Laguna Beach, according to Cota. "His daughter had not been kidnapped at all, and had no idea what her father was going through."

Though the family was not able to stop the wire transfer of the funds, another family was luckier. One day later, the Laguna Beach police received a virtual kidnapping complaint.

"We were able to intervene before the money was wired to Mexico," Cota said. The resident in the second case was able to get in touch with her daughter, a Chicago student, and learned she was safe."

Laguna Beach's student resource officer Cornelius Ashton has informed all parents of Laguna Schools that virtual kidnapping can only occur when you are not able to slow down to find out what is happening with your loved one, he said.

"The success depends on speed and fear," Cota said. "If you suspect a real kidnapping is taking place, or if you believe a ransom demand is a scam, contact the LBPD at 949-497-0701.

How can you tell if a virtual scam is taking place?

• Callers will go to great lengths to keep you on the phone.
• Calls do not come from the supposed victim's phone
• Callers try to prevent you from calling the "kidnapped" victim
• Callers include demands for ransom money to be paid through wire transfers to Mexican accounts. The amounts they demand may drop quickly.

Consider these options when you get a call such as described here:

• The best course of action is to hang up the phone.
• If you don't want to risk ending the call, drive to the police station.
• Remain calm and try to slow down the situation.
• Do not share any information about your family during the call. Never say your loved one's name.
• Ask the caller to call back using the victim's phone.
• Try to buy time by repeating each demand, saying you need to "write down the demands."
• Don't argue with the caller or challenge them.
• Write down the number from caller-ID
• For more information, contact School Resource Officer Cpl. Cornelius Ashton: 949-497-0773