Washington, DC – Reports of virtual kidnapping scams in D.C. area

Virtual kidnapping scams, where scammers call people and falsely tell them a member of their family has been kidnapped, have been occurring in the Washington D.C. area. The scammers demand ransom money from their victims, threatening to injure or kill their family member if the payment is not sent immediately. The FBI, who has been monitoring these scams nationwide, says the scammers sometimes have someone screaming in the background to make the kidnapping seem more authentic. Victims are encouraged to report the crime to local FBI.