LAPD issues warning on virtual kidnapping scams targeting Hispanics

The Los Angeles Police Department is warning the public about a surge in 'virtual kidnapping' scams that are disproportionately targeting the Hispanic and Latino communities. Scammers, often Spanish speakers, contact victims through calls or private messaging apps, falsely claiming to have kidnapped a loved one and demanding ransom for their release. They use tactics such as alleging the relative owes a cartel money or was involved in a car accident, and often instruct victims to stay on the phone and avoid contacting the police. In some cases, multiple family members are contacted simultaneously, making each believe the other has been abducted to increase the scam's credibility. The LAPD advises people to be wary of calls from unknown numbers, particularly those with Mexico's +52 country code, and warns against responding to suspicious messages or using social media to locate missing relatives, as scammers exploit such posts. Anyone receiving a suspicious call is urged to hang up and notify law enforcement immediately.