“Emergency scams” have become one of the more commonly reported types of phone fraud in recent years. These schemes typically involve a fabricated emergency in which a caller claims that a family member has been arrested or needs financial assistance after a car breakdown while traveling to visit you.
But what would you do if you received a call claiming that a loved one had been taken hostage, with the caller demanding an immediate online ransom payment for their release?
That’s exactly what happened to a Florida woman who lives with her mother. She shared on BBB Scam Tracker that she was caught off guard when she received a call in the middle of the night that appeared to come from her mother’s phone number. The caller claimed her mother had been kidnapped, and the woman could hear noises in the background that suggested someone was being held against their will. Unsure whether the incident was actually happening inside her own home, she was left questioning what was real.
Thankfully, the call turned out to be a hoax involving a scheme known as “virtual kidnapping.” This scam has prompted several Tennessee law enforcement agencies to issue public warnings following spikes in reports from distressed residents who have received similar calls.
The scam relies on psychological intimidation, urgency and pressure to prevent victims from thinking clearly and to persuade them to act before they have time to verify the situation.
Here’s some key elements:
- Number spoofing: Scammers use caller ID spoofing software to disguise their actual location (frequently overseas) so that your phone explicitly displays a family member’s name or exact phone number.
- The “hostage” script: When you answer, you typically hear someone frantically crying or screaming in the background. An aggressive caller then takes the phone, claiming your loved one has been kidnapped, was in an accident or crossed a dangerous group (like a cartel), and threatens violence if you hang up.
- AI voice cloning: In highly sophisticated variations, criminals may even use AI voice cloning tech to add authenticity. By taking a short clip of your relative’s voice from public social media videos, they can make the crying or pleading sound exactly like your family member.
- Demand for untraceable cash: They will pressure you to stay on the line continuously while demanding immediate payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency or peer-to-peer wire apps (like Cash App or Venmo).
Your BBB suggests that you watch for these red flags:
- The caller refuses to let you hang up or call your relative back.
- They demand absolute secrecy and immediate payment.
- They cannot provide specific, verifiable details about your relative that aren’t already publicly available online.
If you receive a call like this, remember that the “hostage” is almost certainly safe and completely unaware the call is happening. It’s best to take these steps:
- Hang up immediately and call your family member directly using your normal contact list or call someone who is physically near them (a school, a coworker or spouse) to verify their safety.
- Never give out personal details or send money when you receive an unexpected call unless you’ve fully confirmed the validity of the situation.
- Notify your local police department or sheriff’s office and consider sharing the information on BBB’s Scam Tracker.
Other versions of emergency scams can come by text message and may even include pictures of your loved one in a dire situation. But remember, with developments in AI it’s very easy to take someone’s likeness and alter a photo.
You can learn more from BBB about emergency scams and ways to avoid impostor scams. You can reach our team at BBB serving Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia at 423-266-6144 or tngabbb@chattanooga.bbb.org.
Michele Mason is president of the Better Business Bureau in Chattanooga.