2 Hunterdon County Residents Fall Victim To Virtual Kidnapping Scam, Prosecutor Says

HUNTERDON COUNTY, NJ — Authorities are warning residents of a telephone scam that has been increasing in popularity across the nation and has made its way to Hunderdon County. It's called “virtual kidnapping” and in the last two months, there have been two reported incidents right here in Hunterdon County, said Prosecutor Anthony P. Kearns III.

According to Kearns, the scam begins with a random or targeted call. The caller tells the victim that a family member, usually a spouse or child, has been kidnapped and demands a ransom be paid. The ransom commonly ranges from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.

The caller orders the target to remain on the phone to prevent them from calling the specified family member.

Often an indiscernible voice may be heard in the background pleading for the targeted caller to pay the ransom. There are sometimes even sound effects to indicate the hostage is being beaten, Kearns said.

The victim is then ordered to obtain cash and to wire transfer the funds to a specified location.

"In both incidents in Hunterdon County the victims were told that the funds were to be sent from a
local Walmart store to Walmart stores in Puerto Rico. Scammers have also directed victims to
local pharmacies that have money remittance services," he said.

Prior to selecting their targets, scammers often mine social media and the internet for personal information, authorities said.

“These scammers are unscrupulous people who exploit the emotions of families that believe a loved one has been kidnapped. It is our intent to educate the public to prevent any further victims from falling prey to these heartless individuals," Kearns said.

Here are some tips from the FBI to determine if the call is a scam:

• Incoming calls do not come from the kidnapped victim’s cell phone.
• The caller will not let you speak directly to the kidnap victim.
• The caller will go to great lengths to keep you on the phone preventing you from calling
the kidnap victim.
• The ransom can only be paid utilizing a wire transfer service.

The FBI recommends that if you do receive a call of this nature that you should immediately hang up and call that family member.