Kidnap Scam Hits Garden City

A kidnap scam believed to be started by a man trying to extort money from unsuspecting Nassau County residents over the phone has hit Garden City.

According to Garden City police, the department is investigating an incident where a village resident received a phone call from a male caller Dec. 10 who stated that her son was injured in a car accident with his nephew and needed $1,500 to pay for the hospital bill.

When the resident questioned the caller, he threatened to harm her son, according to a village police report. It was discovered that the resident’s son was in fact not in an accident and accounted for.

Nassau County police report at least 13 instances since Nov. 1 have been reported and each has involved a caller stating that a family member had been kidnapped, held hostage or involved in an auto accident. The caller then asks the victim to send money, usually through Western Union, to save or help the family member, county police said.

Three of the incidents included the threat of serious physical injury against the person being held, county police said.

Police ask anyone who believes they have been a victim of this scam to call 911 immediately.

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