Take that threatening cellphone name demanding cash for an outrageous declare with a grain of salt.
In one more instance of a phone-based rip-off, the Boston Police Department on Sunday despatched officers out to examine in on a lady and her younger daughter within the space of Waltham Street who had allegedly been kidnapped, primarily based on a name the lady’s mum or dad had acquired.
“The unknown suspect was demanding a cash payment through an online application,” the BPD relayed in an announcement warning individuals of such scams. “On arrival, the officers safely located the individuals referenced in the threatening phone call who did not appear to be in any distress.”
The rip-off seems to be a kidnap-angle to what’s referred to as the “grandparent” rip-off, a fraud the Herald has reported on usually.
In a comparatively latest instance of such a rip-off — with this one using the “fake accident ploy” variant to the con — an East Boston grandfather obtained a name in July 2022 reporting that his nephew had been ingesting and hit a pregnant lady together with his automotive and was arrested. But the caller mentioned a $7,500 wedged in {a magazine} and despatched in an envelope to a Pennsylvania deal with would care for the issue.
The grandfather dutifully did as he was informed, after which referred to as the nephew solely after and located that he was simply effective and had simply left work.
While this grandparent was in a position to recoup his loss, many others couldn’t — with the Boston-based National Consumer Law Center reporting that cellphone scams like this value victims billions of {dollars} yearly.
Thankfully, Sunday’s con wasn’t profitable within the least as no cash was transferred.
Should the cellphone ring and also you study of some devastating information that may be fastened with a fee, the police advocate calling them instantly — with related data just like the caller’s cellphone quantity and the small print of the message or name. Then contact the particular person the rip-off references and see in the event that they’re truly in any misery.
It’s additionally a very good transfer, the police say, to push again just a little on the caller: does the caller truly know particular details about the particular person they’re speaking about, like what the particular person bodily appears to be like like or the place that particular person is particularly situated? If not, that’s a significant pink flag.
In addition to submitting a report with the Boston Police Department, victims are additionally inspired to report any Phone/Internet Fraud Scams to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (82-4357); or TTY, for the deaf or arduous of listening to, at 1-866-653-4261; or go to their web site at: www.client.ftc.gov/scam-alerts
Source: www.bostonherald.com”