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[scion]

Scammers targeting families of missing people, Hamilton police say

Police say people should call them if they receive suspicious text messages

Bobby Hristova · CBC News · Posted: Jul 26, 2021 3:00 PM ET | Last Updated: July 26
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/missing-person-scam-1.6117758

Allison General said she was wondering where her 28-year-old daughter June was when she received a chilling text message on her phone.

It was from someone who claimed they'd kidnapped June.

"I am not releasing Her until I have a ransom of 7,000$. am sure you know what to do if you don't want me to make today Horrible for you by killing your daughter," read the text message sent on the evening of July 21.

General said she called Six Nations police right away,

"I dropped my phone. I started crying, I called her kids in … I just freaked out a bit," General said.

June was reported missing the next day. Hamilton police led the search efforts and she was found on Monday afternoon, Staff Sgt. Dave Oleniuk said.

He said the text wasn't a factor in June's case because the message appeared to be a scam.

You're preying on vulnerable people at their worst moment.
- Staff Sgt. Dave Oleniuk, Hamilton Police Service

But he also said General isn't the only one to have received that kind of message.

"Somebody is seeing [online] posts like, 'Oh my God, my daughter is missing,' and this troll just kind of jumps on that," he said.

"You're preying on vulnerable people at their worst moment ... It's unfortunate that it's out there like the CRA scams, the senior scams, the CEO scam. This is just another one."

Oleniuk said if someone does receive a message like that or any suspicious message, they should contact police.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/missing-person-scam-1.6117758