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New "Virtual Kidnapping" Scam Hits Close to Home

 
The past week has brought about new reports of a “virtual kidnapping” scam that has come up and central Illinois residents are no exception. Police have stated that a scammer calls and claims to have kidnapped a loved one and is holding them for a ransom.
 
A former resident of Taylorville, now of Springfield, who asked not to be named, spoke with Regional Radio News about the recent scam and how he was a victim.
 
 
The Springfield resident says that the scammer kept him on the phone to get the ransom money and made threats that kept the victim stuck in place for fear of harm to his loved one.
 
 
The victim also says that the scammer did not use a voice alteration machine, so the scam sounded legitimate to a worried loved one. 
 
Police suggest that if a person receives one of these calls, they should try to use another phone or computer to contact the loved one or police, request to speak to the loved one, ask for a photograph of the "kidnapping victim.”

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