Nationwide false kidnappings scam comes to SC, sheriff’s office says. What to know

Two residents have reported to the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office that when the call came demanding ransom for a kidnapped family member, they believed it.

They paid several hundreds dollars each, Lt. Ryan Flood of the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office said.

The Sheriff’s Office responded that they’d been had. It was a scam sweeping the nation.

Playing on many people’s worst fears, the scammer addresses the person and their family member by name and says they better pay up.

“The scammer will threaten harm and/or death if the ransom is not received,” the Sheriff’s Office said on its Facebook page, imploring people to beware.

“The GCSO takes these incidents seriously, and although most of these incidents originate from other countries, we are working with our federal partners to identify the people responsible,” the Sheriff’s Office said.

The Sheriff’s Office suggested:

• Know the location of your children throughout the day.

• If you receive a call like this, hang up the phone and contact your family member directly.

• Never provide anyone with personal or financial information over the phone.

• Call the Sheriff’s Office to report the incident (864) 271-5210.