Irvington PD Reports Attempted Kidnapping Scam

A frightening scam police said has recently been increasing in popularity was reported in Irvington Friday.

A local merchant went into police headquarters at approximately 10 a.m. this morning to report the scam, according to Sgt. Michael Foley.

"He had gotten a call that his brother was involved in a car accident somewhere in the Bronx," Foley described.

The caller went on to tell the merchant that his brother was being held and would be killed unless $550 in damages for the property damage sustained during the alleged accident was paid.

The merchant said he was instructed to go to Western Union and wire the funds to an address in Puerto Rico, which as a U.S. territory, would allow the perpetrator to access the funds from anywhere in the United States, according to Foley.

The man was able to contact his family members to ensure they were safe and determine the call was a scam before reporting it to police.

Foley said he called the number the suspects used several times today.

"They didn't answer and then called back," he explained. "And they tried to perpetrate the same scam on me."

Foley said he asserted to the suspects that he knew about the scam, and they in turn, admitted to stealing up to $10,000 a day from people scared for the safety of their family members.

The phone number, published with permission from the Irvington Police Department is: 201-423-5155.

Foley said it's important residents are aware of the scam because "these people are so persuasive and use high pressure tactics."

The department has notified the Federal Bureau of Investigation about the attempted scam.

For now, "The best thing is trying to educate the public," Foley said.