From the Grand Junction Police Department:
The Grand Junction Police Department (GJPD) is alerting the community about a troubling phone scam involving the fraudulent claims of kidnapping. In recent days, the GJPD has received reports of a scammer calling residents and falsely claiming their loved one has been kidnapped or is being held against their will and demanding immediate payment via wire transfer. The scammer knows the name of the victim’s loved one, adding believability to the threat, and uses scare tactics and urgency to try and pressure the victim into sending large amounts of money before verifying the claims. Luckily, the victims in these incidents called law enforcement and found these claims to be false before losing any money.
What to do if you receive this type of call:
- Stay calm and resist the urge to react out of fear.
- Verify the claim by contacting the family member in question.
- Avoid sending money or financial information. Scammers frequently demand wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or prepaid gift cards which are difficult to trace.
- Contact your local law enforcement to report the call.
- Warn others who might be vulnerable to this type of scam.
The threat to anyone’s family can be scary and the Grand Junction Police Department urges anyone who receives this type of call to remain vigilant, take a moment to assess the situation, and call law enforcement right away. The GJPD continues to monitor and respond to reports of this type of scam. Anyone who has fallen victim to this scam or has received a suspicious call should call non-emergency dispatch at 970-242-6707.