Police are warning the public about the growing trends in virtual inducing scams targeting the Hispanic community in Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Police Department issued an alert on behalf of the Robbery and Residential Department on Friday to spread awareness about how these scammers are run and how they are protected.
“When carrying out these frauds, the suspects claim that when in reality, the don’t have the “safe” release of that loved one, the victim holds the victim and holds the money they forced, for the “safe” release of that loved one,” explained LAPD.
This scam usually starts with a call or text message on a private messaging app that claims that a Spanish-speaking suspect is capturing a loved one.
LAPD begins to explain the reasons, including the money they owed to the cartels for the loss of drugs, or the kind of things they were involved in the traffic collisions they caused.
The con man then requests that the money be sent or delivered to a specific location in exchange for the release of a loved one.
“In most cases, victims are monitored and told to stay on the phone until the money is paid and warned not to answer calls or incoming calls,” LAPD’s release said. “In some cases, suspects contact two families (such as husband and wife, parents and children) at the same time and coordinate simultaneous fraud that forces each person to believe they have been invited.”
LAPD has given community members the following recommendations:
Please note that you will answer incoming calls from unknown phone numbers, particularly using prefix numbers (+52) originating from Mexico and in some cases local area codes. Note that you respond to text messages from unknown numbers on private messaging apps. Please note that you are using social media platforms to seek the help of your community when you find your missing loved one. The suspect will accept this as an opportunity to contact the user and try to force money using any of the above scenarios. If you are answering a call in any of the above scenarios, hang up and make a call or go to your local police agency.
For more information, police said they would contact Robbery Special Section 213-486-6840 of the Robbery and Suicide Division.
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