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Authorities warn of extortion phone scam

by The AV Times Staff • February 24, 2016

LANCASTER – Local  authorities are warning the public about a phone scam that has been targeting residents in the Antelope Valley.

The scam starts with a phone call from a suspect pretending to have kidnapped the victim’s child. Victims are told if they do not pay a ransom, their child will be killed.

“In these incidences, the victims have immediately notified Lancaster Sheriff Station and their children were contacted and were safe. No kidnapping had taken place,” local officials said in an advisory.

The scam was attempted Tuesday afternoon when crooks called a bridal store in Quartz Hill. The scammer falsely claimed the shopkeeper’s daughter had been kidnapped and demanded a ransom, said Sgt. Dan Wolanski of the sheriff’s Lancaster Station.

The girl was located and was okay, Wolanski said.

“Please be aware of phone scams and immediately notify local law enforcement if you or your family are being threatened,” officials said in the advisory. “Always know where your children are, who they are with, and have a means of contact at all times.”

Visit https://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety/fraud to see a description of the most common phone scams, signs of a phone scam, and how to protect yourself from a phone scam.

You can also report threats and scams to the FBI directly by going to https://www.fbi.gov/report-threats-and-crime or calling 1-800-CALLFBI (225-5324) for the Major Case Contact Center.

[City News Service contributed to this report.]

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Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

3 comments for "Authorities warn of extortion phone scam"

  1. Turd Ferguson says

    February 26, 2016 at 12:21 pm

    I will tell you what real extortion is.I will tell you what real extortion is.It is paying $90,000.00 a month for LEAPS.It is paying $90,000.00 a month for LEAPS.To do nothing.To do nothing.Crime is going up.Crime is going up.So is Franks bank account.So is Franks bank account.Rexs political contributor.Rexs political contributor.This is costing us $10,800,000.00.This is costing us $10,800,000.00.To do nothing.To do nothing.Now it looks for homeless camps.Now it looks for homeless camps.Which can be done by the Sherriffs heliocopter which we already pay for.Which can be done by the Sherriffs heliocopter which we already pay for.Or one of Rexs off road Hummers.Or one of Rexs off road Hummers.No to LEAPS.No to LEAPS.No more crony payoffs.No more crony payoffs.

  2. Net Wait says

    February 26, 2016 at 7:36 am

    “The scam starts with a phone call from a suspect ”

    No. The scam starts with a phone call from the scammer, or the culprit, or the criminal. There are no names here; you don’t have to be dodgy. The person doing this is in fact doing it, not “suspected” of doing it.

  3. Gowchong says

    February 25, 2016 at 4:42 am

    We got two calls from a heavily accented woman claiming that the IRS was after us. The wife and I laughed through the first presentation telling us to call a certain number or have our attorney call that number as we were sure to go to jail for tax evasion. The second call was exactly the same as the first.
    I’m tempted to call that number just for kicks and giggles. But then I’d probably end up getting incessant calls as I acknowledged the calls. Best bet is to ignore.

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