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Kidnapping scams increase during COVID-19
Police are warning about a frightening phone scam where someone claims your son or daughter has been kidnapped.
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Police are warning about a frightening phone scam where someone claims your son or daughter has been kidnapped.
TWO WOMEN TARGETED BY IT. >> Reporter: POLICE EVERYWHERE ARE WARNING ABOUT A TERRIFYING PHONE SCAM WHERE SOMEONE CLAIMS YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER HAS BEEN KIDNAPPED. WOULD YOU FALL FOR IT? WAIT TO HEAR HOW FRIGHTENING THE CAR COULD BE. DIANE PETERS WANTS EVERYONE TO KNOW ABOUT THE PHONE SCAM THAT IS TERRIFYING HER.>> I WANT YOU TO GET INSIDE YOUR CAR RIGHT NOW. >> Reporter: THAT'S A RECORDING OF A MAN CLAIMING HE HAD KIDNAPPED ONE OF HER TWO DAUGHTERS AND OF POLICE FOUND OUT, HE WOULD KILL THE WOMAN.>> I TOLD YOU TO WAIT AND I TOLD YOU TO KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT. >> I WAS PICTURING MY ONE DAUGHTER, WITH A GUN TO HER HEAD . THINKING SOMEBODY IS TELLING HER SHE NEEDS TO GIVE US MONEY. >> Reporter: THE CALLER WANTED $500 WIRED TO MEXICO, TO SET HER FREE.>> I KNEW EXACTLY WHERE YOU LIVE AND IF YOU SAY SOMETHING, I WILL HANG UP THE PHONE AND I'M COMING INSIDE YOUR HOUSE.>> WE JUST LITERALLY , FALL APART. >> Reporter: WHAT MAKES IT SO EFFECTIVE IS WHERE THEY KEEP YOU ON THE PHONE WHEN THEY ARE SENDING YOU OUT TO GET GIFT CARDS OR TO AN ATM FOR CASH. THEY MAKE SURE YOU DON'T CALL FRIENDS, FAMILY OR THE POLICE. >> I ANSWERED AND IT WAS ONE OF THE KIDS CRYING. >> Reporter: NATALIE GOT A SIMILAR CALLED . SHE HEARD A GIRL CRYING OUT FOR HELP IN THE BACKGROUND. >> THEY WERE CRYING SUPERHARD. A BLACK SUBURBAN HAD PULLED UP AND PEOPLE GOT OUT WITH GUNS. >> Reporter: A MAN SAID IF SHE WANTED TO SEE HER DAUGHTER AGAIN SHE NEEDED MONEY AND STOP AT THIS GAS STATION. THE MAN SAID POLICE WERE ON THEIR TAIL AND SHE NEEDED TO ACT QUICKLY OR THEY WOULD HARM HER DAUGHTER. BUT IN BOTH CASES, THE DAUGHTERS WERE SAFE AND NEW NOTHING ABOUT THE CALL. IT'S CALLED A VIRTUAL KIDNAPPING SCAM. ALL YOU CAN DO IS BE AWARE OF IT SO IF YOU GET A CALL LIKE THIS? >> GET IN THE CAR.>> Reporter: YOU CAN SAY NO AND CHECK WITH YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER WHO IS PROBABLY HOME SAFE AND SOUND. THE CALLER DOESN'T EVEN KNOW YOUR CHILD'S NAME BUT IS SO CONVINCING COMING YOU THINK