APD RECENTLY RESPONDED TO A HOME TO CHECK ON A REPORT OF A SUSPICIOUS CALL. THE SUSPECT CALLER TOLD THE PERSON THAT A RELATIVE HAD BEEN KIDNAPPED AND THE RANSOM WAS 3-THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE VICTIM TOLD POLICE THE RELATIVE WAS AT WORK AND SAFE. THEY ALSO LEARNED THAT THE SCAMMER HAD ASKED PERSONAL QUESTIONS AT THE START OF THE CALL, SAYING HE NEEDED THE INFO BECAUSE A FAMILY MEMBER WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT.
POLICE ARE AWARE OF ONE OTHER SIMILAR CALL IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO. THE SAME PHONE NUMBER, LINKED TO A DISPOSABLE CELL PHONE PURCHASED IN SANTA FE, WAS CONNECTED TO BOTH SCAM ATTEMPTS.
