YPD says new phone scammer asks for money as ransom

On Wednesday, the Yuma Police Department received a call in reference to a phone scam.

Police said the scam could start with a phone call with a hysterical female voice, crying child, or a male voice with a crying child in the background.

The person then asks if you have any daughters, to which they say they have your daughter and need to pay a ransom to get them back.

According to YPD, the number reported seems to come from Monterrey, Nuevo León in Mexico.

The number given to YPD is 52-81-3043-9631.

In reference to the call to YPD today, the person had not been taken captive.

After looking into the number, YPD said it may have been used several times to lure people into giving money.

Authorities urge people to be cautious of calls from numbers you are not familiar with, especially from out of the country.

If you do answer a call like this, do not give out any personal information.

In addition to this phone scam, Yuma County Sheriff’s Office ( YCSO) is also warning the community about other current scams.

Facebook gift card scam

A scam already affecting Yuma, pertains to one circling Facebook.

Not yet claiming any victims, YCSO simply wants to warn the community.

In the scam, an account seemingly belonging to Sheriff Wilmot claims your name is on a gift card he had received.

The account asks for the person to get a “green dot card”.

YCSO said this is a form of money very difficult to get reimbursed.

Unfortunately, these bogus accounts are not easy to track.

Grandchild scam

A summer scam approaching, is people that call, posing as a grandchild saying they are lost in Mexico and need money.

YCSO suggests not sending money as it is is also a scam.

They said these scams largely target people not native to Yuma.

“People that are at risk are people that are not from the community, that don’t understand that the sheriff’s office won’t call text or email you wanting money or willing to give you money,” said Alfonso Zavala with YCSO

YCSO said consumers can research businesses through the Better Business Bureau.

Scams should be reported to Yuma County Sheriff’s Office as well as the Attorney General’s Office.

Zavala recommends to donate to any fundraisers in person and never over a Facebook message or other advertisement.