Alert bank employees and Davis police stopped an apparent scam in its tracks this week, the incident involving an elderly man who believed his granddaughter had been kidnapped.
According to Lt. Art Camacho, the Davis man arrived at his Second Street bank to make a large withdrawal Tuesday afternoon, telling an employee via note that he’d been contacted on his cell phone by someone who claimed they had abducted his juvenile granddaughter.
“The unknown suspects told the victim that he had to withdraw a large amount of cash from his bank and drop it off at an unknown location as ransom for his granddaughter,” Camacho said. Employees contacted the Police Department, which sent officers to the bank.
“The investigation clarified that the claims the suspects had made in regard to the elderly victim’s granddaughter were essentially fraudulent, and that the juvenile was in fact in a safe and sound condition at home,” Camacho said. “It is now suspected that the male had become the victim of an extortion attempt by phone by unknown suspects.”
Camacho offered the following advice to prevent others from falling victim to scams of this type:
* Beware of anyone demanding valuables or cash from you, and/or making threats to you or anyone else. If you become suspicious that a scam is afoot, hang up and call the police
* Be aware of caller ID “spoofing,” during which offenders use technology to alter their ID and phone numbers and the way they might be displayed on your phone.
* When in doubt, ask the caller to give you contact information so you can re-contact them at a time of your choosing.
* Never let anyone persuade you partake in something that might be illegal.
To report a suspected scam, call the Davis Police Department at 530-747-5400.