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The caller told the 55-year-old resident that "his father was involved in a car accident, a fight occurred and they were holding him against his will," Police Chief Robert Kugler said.
The caller said he needed to send $1,900 via a moneygram to Puerto Rico, then said there was an error and the money wasn't received, Kugler said. So he sent another $1,900.
The con man then told him that he needed to send another $1,900 "or they were going to kill his father," the chief said.
He then demanded $1,500 more.
The caller insisted the victim remain on the phone for about 4½ hours or they'd kill his father, Kugler said.
"After the caller received the money, the victim was told that his father would be released and driven home," he said.
When he got there his father was already home, Kugler said.
"He wasn't involved in any accident or held anywhere," he said.
"This seems pretty bizarre and hard to comprehend, but I'm guessing that when there's a threat against a family member, some of us may not rationalize or question the legitimacy of the predicament as one should really do," the chief said.
COMMON SCAMS: http://corporate.moneygram.com/compliance/fraud-prevention/common-consumer-scams
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