Weymouth Residents Told Their Loved Ones Are Being Held Hostage

Several Weymouth residents have been contacted by fraudulent callers saying their loved ones are being held hostage, police said.

According to Weymouth Police, the scam is executed as follows:

“The scammers are calling victims and telling them that they have their relative or love one held hostage. The scammers keep the victims on the phone and talk them through the process of sending cash via Western Union (or similar electronic money transfer companies) to the scammers in order to have their relative released.”

Weymouth Police Captain Richard Fuller said the scammers keep the victims on the phone until the money is sent.

In one case, Fuller said the scammers identified themselves as drug dealers and told the victim that their relative had gotten into a car accident with them.

Police are asking anyone who receives a similar call to contact police immediately.