74-Year-Old Newark Woman Victim Of Ransom Scammers

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Newark – Newark Police Department is investigating an extortion that occurred on 4/1/18 at approximately 4:45 pm at a residence in the 100 block of Winterthur Lane, according to Lt. Fred Nelson.

Nelson said the victim, a 74-year-old female, stated that she received a phone call from a subject who was screaming that he needed help. Another subject then got on the phone and told the victim that they had attacked her son because he did not pay a ransom for his friend.

This subject then demanded that the victim make a payment to him using gift cards, said Nelson. The victim subsequently went and purchased an undisclosed amount of gift cards and provided the suspect with the gift card codes. A subsequent call to the victim’s son found that he was fine and that this incident was a scam.

Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact PFC Vari at [email protected] or 302-366-7100 ext 3486.

The Delaware State Police have some tips on how not to become a victim of these virtual kidnapping schemes:

The success of any type of virtual kidnapping scheme depends on speed and fear. Criminals know they only have a short time to exact a ransom before the victims unravel the scam or authorities become involved. To avoid becoming a victim, look for these possible indicators:

Callers go to great lengths to keep you on the phone, insisting you remain on the line.
Calls do not come from the supposed victim’s phone.
Callers try to prevent you from contacting the “kidnapped” victim.
Calls include demands for ransom money to be paid via wire transfer; ransom amount demands may drop quickly.
If you receive a phone call from someone demanding a ransom for an alleged kidnap victim, the following should be considered:

In most cases, the best course of action is to hang up the phone.
If you do engage the caller, don’t call out your loved one’s name.
Try to slow the situation down. Request to speak to your family member directly. Ask, “How do I know my loved one is okay?”
Ask questions only the alleged kidnap victim would know, such as the name of a pet. Avoid sharing information about yourself or your family.
Listen carefully to the voice of the alleged victim if they speak.
Attempt to contact the alleged victim via phone, text, or social media, and request that they call back from their cell phone.
To buy time, repeat the caller’s request and tell them you are writing down the demand, or tell the caller you need time to get things moving.
Don’t agree to pay a ransom, by wire or in person. Delivering money in person can be dangerous.
This information was provided through the FBI website located at:

https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/virtual-kidnapping

Many of these scams are difficult to investigate. They will target persons of all age groups. Delaware State Police is asking citizens to remember the tips previously mentioned in order to not become a victim of one of these scam artists.

If you suspect a real kidnapping is taking place or you believe a ransom demand is a scheme, contact your local law enforcement immediately.

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First State Update's Delaware editorial team covers New Castle County, Kent County and Sussex County breaking news, political news, and general news stories. We bring the reader the latest news from the Wilmington, Newark, Dover, Rehoboth Beach and all point in between. If you have news to share, email us at [email protected].

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