Full Notification

Public Service Announcement
Virtual Kidnapping Scam

The Beverly Hills Police Department is alerting Beverly Hills residents of an ongoing nationwide scam. In this scam, a person calls and claims to have kidnapped a family member. Sometimes another person, claiming to be the kidnap victim is initially on the line asking for help, giving the impression that the family member has truly been kidnapped. The alleged kidnapper takes over the phone call and requests ransom money by way of a wire transfer, such was Western Union, or cash. The “kidnapper” goes to great lengths to keep the call-taker on the phone and does not allow the call-taker to speak to the alleged kidnap victim again. In some cases where the call-taker agrees to pay the ransom, the culprit sends a private driver to the call-takers home in order to quickly transport the call-taker to a bank to withdraw funds. In these cases it is later discovered that there has been no kidnapping and the alleged kidnap victim is unaware of the situation.

Some indicators that the incoming call is a scam:

The incoming call is from an unknown long-distance phone number.
The caller does not know the name of the person they have kidnapped (i.e. states, “I kidnapped your daughter.”
The caller will not let you speak with the alleged kidnap victim.
The caller demands that you stay on the phone and will not allow you to make other phone calls.
The caller will not allow you to call him/her back.
The caller demands ransom money by way of wire transfer or cash.

If you receive such call, consider the following:

Ask to speak to the alleged kidnap victim. If you speak to someone purporting to be the kidnap victim, listen carefully to determine whether it is in fact your family member.
Ask the caller to give you the name and description of the alleged kidnap victim.
While remaining on the phone with the caller, call or text the alleged kidnap victim.
Report incident to police as soon as possible.