The Boston Police Department has issued a warning to the public about a distressing scam involving fake kidnapping claims, as residents in the Boston-area have been targeted by hoax phone calls. These calls are highly manipulative, with scammers informing parents and relatives that their child is being held hostage, and demanding a ransom while playing recordings of children crying in the background to make the threat seem real.
Victims who receive such distressing calls should contact the police without delay and try to get in touch with their family member through the usual means to confirm their safety. The BPD also recommends asking the caller for specific details about the alleged victim's location and a physical description, to assess the credibility of the claim. According to an alert posted on the Boston Police Department website, taking note of the phone number where the call originated, is crucial before reporting the incident to the authorities.
In addition to alerting the local police department, victims of these phone or internet fraud scams can report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC provides a toll-free hotline at 1(877) FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) and a TTY number for the hearing impaired at 1-866-653-4261. They also encourage individuals to visit the FTC's website to learn more about similar scam alerts.
