Nov 11, 2016 2 min read

Peters Township police are warning of a “grandparent” scam after local incidents in which victims received telephone calls stating that a relative had been kidnapped and a ransom is demanded.

In those cases, a male caller was accompanied by a female who was crying.

The male claimed the female would be harmed unless a ransom was paid and instructed the victims to purchase a money card or withdraw cash.

Police were contacted, and no money was sent or delivered. The individuals who were said to be kidnapped were located and were not in any danger.

The Federal Trade Commission estimates “grandparent” scams and other imposter scams cost Americans millions of dollars annually.

Often, the victims are instructed to wire money through Western Union or MoneyGram, which provide no protections for the sender, and there is no way to stop or reverse the transaction, or to trace the money.

In addition to filing a police report, please consider reporting it to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint.

Police said to be suspicious if you receive a call in which:

• A relative or friend is purported to be in some sort of trouble.

• A relative or friend, or the caller, says the grandchild is in a distant location

• The relative or friend or caller requests for money to be wire transferred or placed on a money card.

Also, police recommend these measures to protect yourself if you receive a call from someone claiming to know you and asking for money:

• Confirm it is legitimate before you decide if you will send money.

• Ask questions that would be difficult for an imposter to answer correctly.

• Contact the person in question. If you can’t reach him or her, contact a friend or another relative.

• Contact the police or have someone do it for you if the caller refuses to let you off the phone.