Watch CBS News

Crying Female Voice Used To Trick Mother In Kidnapping Hoax

SHALER TWP. (KDKA) -- Shaler Police are warning community members about a terrifying scam that involves fooling parents into believing their child has been abducted.

On Nov. 30, officers were contacted by a woman who said her daughter had been kidnapped and the perpetrators were demanding money. The woman's daughter is a student at a university in another state.

Police say the call was initiated by a female who was crying and the mother thought that it was her daughter.

Join The Conversation On The KDKA Facebook Page
Stay Up To Date, Follow KDKA On Twitter

The suspects told the woman that if she called the police, they would hurt the girl.

The woman called Shaler Police and was able to make contact with her daughter, who was not the victim of a kidnapping.

"The Shaler Township Police want to make residents aware of these types of scams that are out there and to call 911 if you receive these types of calls. If it is possible, ask questions of the caller that only your family member would know the answer to," a news release said.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.