Update (02/09 6:55pm): Another phone scam attempt is being reported by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
Officers say that around 12:30 Monday afternoon, a woman frantically flagged down a deputy. She told the officer that she had received a call from someone claiming to have her child, and that they would “behead” the child if they didn’t receive $20,000.
Deputies provided assistance in locating the children, who were found safe at their school. It was later determined the call was from Mexico and was scam.
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Medford, Ore. — A terrifying scam is prompting Medford police to send out a warning Wednesday night.
They call it the “kidnap scam.” Lieutenant Mike Budreau said a 58-year-old Medford woman fell victim to the scam Tuesday after she received a call from a stranger who said he had her daughter and was going to kill her if the woman hung up or didn’t send money. During the phone call a young woman could be heard screaming in the background.
The victim wired hundreds of dollars to the caller. She realized it was a scam after she called her daughter, who was perfectly fine.
Budreau said victims of this particular scam are affected in more ways than one.
“It’s a horrible scam,” he said. “Unlike scams we’ve seen in the past they’re not only trying to trick you, but they’re trying to scare you and trying to use that fear to get you motivated to give them money.”
Budreau said elderly people are often the targets for these types of phone scams, and once the money is sent there’s no way to get it back. He said if you do receive a call like this the best thing to do is hang up.
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