January 24, 2017 - The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office reports the office has received three reports over the past week of residents receiving threatening scam phone calls demanding money in exchange for a family member or in exchange of a friend’s life. The calls are very aggressive in nature and in some cases a person yelling for help can be heard in the background. The scammers are telling the family members that their phones have been hacked / tracked and that they are even being watched. The scammers are threatening bodily harm to the “kidnapped” person if the family member doesn’t do exactly as told or if they contact law enforcement.
 
THIS IS A SCAM, it has been circulating the United States and Canada since August 2016. No one is actually being kidnapped or held.

The scammers are trying to stress residents into providing them money. Please do not send any money to these scammers or provide them with any information. Hang up the phone and contact our office at 209-966-3615.
Source: Mariposa County Sheriff's Office