North Haven police are warning residents about a phone scam targeting parents and their children.
Police said that a potential victim receives a call claiming that the victim’s child, or grandchild, has been involved in a car accident with a person who is wanted for murder and now threatening to harm the child if a ransom is not paid.
A member of the North Haven Police Department received the call on Friday and remained on the phone with the caller for several minutes before realizing something was wrong. As a result, the department is warning people to be wary of any calls they receive from people demanding money.
Reports of similar fraudulent calls have been received across the United States. In some cases, the scammer will play audio of a child’s voice, leading their target to further believe their loved one is in danger. The scammers require targets to stay on the phone while traveling to the bank to withdraw ransom money that they’re then directed to drop off at a separate location.
Anyone who receives this type of call is advised to call police immediately.
