Hoquiam police warn of fake hostage call that led to a bank withdrawal
A school employee was told a relative was being held and ordered to pay a ransom. Bank staff spotted the withdrawal and confirmed the relative was safe, according to The Daily World.
In short
- What happened?
- According to The Daily World, a Hoquiam school employee got a call falsely saying a relative was being held hostage. Bank staff spotted the ransom withdrawal and confirmed the relative was safe.
- What was the warning sign?
- The caller demanded the victim stay on the line, threatened harm if police were told, and asked for a ransom to be withdrawn from the bank and paid at a shop.
- What can you do?
- Hang up and contact your loved one directly using a number you know. Do not send money or share personal or financial information, and report the threat to the police.
What happened
According to The Daily World, Hoquiam Police Department reported that an elementary school employee received a phone call on the morning of Thursday 29 October. The caller claimed that a family member was being held against their will after supposedly interrupting the caller's criminal activity.
The caller told the victim to stay on the line and threatened to harm the family member if police were contacted. The victim said they heard what sounded like their relative's voice, which made the threat seem real.
They were then told to withdraw money from their bank and take it to Walmart to pay a ransom. Bank employees recognised the withdrawal as unusual and a possible scam. They contacted the family member, who confirmed they were safe and had never been held.
The kidnapping claim was false, but the police said the victim suffered a serious medical event because of the stress. The department is working to identify the source of the call.
Warning signs
- A caller says a loved one is being held and tells you not to contact the police.
- You are ordered to stay on the phone the whole time.
- You hear a voice that sounds like your relative, which can make the claim feel convincing.
- You are told to withdraw money and then pay a ransom at a shop.
What families can do
- Talk this kind of scam over with your family, especially relatives who may be more vulnerable to pressure, as the police advise.
- If you get a similar call, hang up and contact your loved one directly using a number you know.
- Do not send money or share personal or financial information.
- Report the threat to the police.
- If a bank employee asks about an unusual withdrawal, take the question seriously and give them time to check.
A call like this is designed to leave no time to think, and careful people can be caught by it. For calls from numbers you have not chosen to trust, QuietGuard can keep them quiet so that they appear in Activity rather than ringing, which gives you a moment to decide whether to respond. It cannot judge whether a call from someone on your trusted list is genuine, so agreeing a plan with your family still matters.
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