Chapel Hill Police Receive Multiple Reports of 'Virtual Kidnappings'

Chapel Hill Police are warning residents against “virtual kidnappings.”

This is the latest attempt from local law enforcement to warn residents about ongoing scams.

In the scenario put forward by Chapel Hill Police, in virtual kidnappings no one has actually been kidnapped but “through deceptions and threats, they coerce victims to pay a quick ransom before the scheme falls apart.”

Authorities say the scammers in these cases try to keep victims on the phone so that they are not able to contact their loved ones and verify their safety. But police warn that many of these scammers “have done their homework” and may have information that would make a victim feel as though there is a legitimate threat.

The callers, police say, are typically in a rush in these scenarios and demand a ransom that is “usually a wire payment to Mexico of $2,000 or less.” Legal restrictions on larger transfers seem to be putting a cap on the scammers’ requests. Victims may also be instructed to make payments to reloadable gift cards.

If you receive a call similar to this scenario, police ask that you write down the number you are being called from, hang up and call the family member who was allegedly kidnapped to verify their safety and then report the scam to Chapel Hill Police at (919) 968-2760.

More information regarding potential scams is available from the North Carolina Department of Justice here.