In one series of calls a female informs of a past due balance on an electric bill and threatens the termination of electrical services if the balance is not paid immediately. These types of calls have been mentioned in the past by the Eagle Pass Police Department and are fraudulent. 

In the second series of calls sometimes referred to as “virtual kidnapping,” calls are received from an unidentified telephone number. A person representing himself as a member of a drug cartel or corrupt law enforcement informs the victim of specific instructions to ensure the safe return of an alleged kidnapped family member or a family member who has been involved in a traffic accident and a ransom is demanded for their safe “return.” On occasion a female can be heard crying or screaming in the background to instill a sense of panic, fear, and urgency to the victim. The caller will go to great lengths to engage the victim in an attempt to extract information they can utilize to their advantage.

These telephone calls, where are originating outside the United States, have become more frequent within the community, and are of a fraudulent and criminal nature. The Eagle Pass Police Department through recommendations from federal agencies suggests the public look for the following indicators:

• Look for incoming calls from outside area codes

• Look for calls that do not originate from the “kidnapped victims” telephone

• Notice if you are prevented from contacting or locating the alleged “kidnapped” victim

• Notice if ransom is only accepted via wire transfer or pre-paid cards; do not provide any names or personal information to the caller at any time during the course of the telephone call; this allows the caller to utilize information and have one believe a family member is in distress

• Hang up and contact your electric service provider to verify the situation and the validity of the telephone call

• If at all possible, during the course of the telephone call, have a family member utilize a secondary telephone line to verify the health and safety of the family member in question if a name is provided. Attempt to determine the location of a “kidnapped victim”

• Report all suspicious telephone calls or calls of this or similar nature to the Eagle Pass Police Department in order to document the incidents and help the Eagle Pass Police Department raise awareness within the community to these type of telephone calls.  830-773-9044 (non-emergency) 911 for all emergency matters.