Terror Over the Phone: Virtual Kidnappings, Part 1
The Perfect Scam
AARP
4.5 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 7 February 2020
⏱️ 24 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
On an uncharacteristically rainy Southern California day, Kathie gets a call that will change her life. Her cellphone displays the caller as unknown. Even though she's hesitant, Kathie decides to answer. On the line she hears screaming and a man claiming to have Kathie's daughter. The man addresses both Kathie and her daughter by name, but something about the interaction feels off. Terrified, Kathie isn't sure what to do next. Unbeknownst to Kathie, she has been drawn into a "virtual kidnapping," a horrific extortion-based scam that's claiming victims across the country. In the first half of this two-part episode, you'll learn how these scams operate and why they're so successful.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This week on AARP's The Perfect Scam. |
| 0:04.0 | It was the worst fear and panic that I have ever felt. |
| 0:09.0 | How long is too long to be thinking that your child is in a van speeding away from you and in harm's way. |
| 0:21.8 | Welcome back to AARP's The Perfect Scam. I'm Julie Guts and with me is my co-host |
| 0:27.2 | AARP Ambassador and Fraud Expert Frank Abagnell. Frank it's always so good to see you. |
| 0:32.0 | Thanks for having me. |
| 0:33.0 | Frank, before we dive into today's episode, |
| 0:35.0 | I'd like to share a brief story about our neighbor who almost became a victim to a utility scam. |
| 0:40.0 | He was pretty shook up when he told us what happened, |
| 0:42.0 | and it sounds like he got out just in the nick of time. |
| 0:45.0 | Can you share with listeners what is the utility scam and how does it work? |
| 0:49.0 | Well, a lot of times they call and they say they're from your electric company and that you owe some back bills |
| 0:54.6 | that you haven't paid on your electrical bill and they're going to shut your power off at |
| 0:58.2 | six o'clock this evening unless they get a payment again. |
| 1:00.8 | We're back to the immediate payment got ever right now so |
| 1:03.6 | give me a credit card over the phone right so they use a typical scare tactic and |
| 1:08.2 | they said well maybe I missed a bill maybe I skipped a payment and it sounds so easy. Just give me your credit card number over the phone will take care of the bill and it's no problem. |
| 1:17.0 | I totally get it. I'd probably go grab my credit card on my purse to avoid the power being cut. I mean we're busy things like this can happen right? |
| 1:24.0 | Yes my wife when I wrote the book scam me if you can said you know actually I've gotten |
| 1:28.9 | those calls she said of course I ignore them I know I don't own you money. But she said I could see where people would fall for that, especially under the threat that they're going to shut their power off. |
| 1:37.3 | Yes, I am with your wife 100%. So what should folks do if they do receive a call from someone claiming to be with their utility company? |
| 1:46.0 | You want to make sure that if you get a call like that you actually call back the utility company |
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