Nassau County Police are investigating several phone scam incidents in which a family member is threatened or is allegedly injured and in need of money, police said.
According to detectives, a male caller with a Spanish accent calls and indicates that a family member was kidnapped, is being held hostage or was injured in an auto accident and needs money to be sent via Western Union to help.
In two of the recent incidents, threats were made against the person that was allegedly being held.
On Feb. 17, a Merrick resident received a call from someone claiming that their brother had been kidnapped. They also tried to intimidate the victim into giving money.
"This information is being provided to residents to make them aware of this ongoing telephone scam and to report any similar incidents to the Nassau County Police Department," police said.
If you believe you may have been a victim of this scam, please call 911 immediately.
Anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the individual(s) responsible are asked to call Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS (8477). All calls remain anonymous.
