Oakland Unified School District officials are warning parents about a recent scam involving fraudulent calls from individuals falsely claiming to have kidnapped their children, as reported by the Mercury News.
These scammers, active during the fall semester, are demanding ransom payments and even using distressing audio recordings of children crying in the background.
In some instances, the scammers showed an unsettling familiarity with targeted families, including knowledge of children’s names, as reported by the Mercury News. Despite these tactics, the school district has confirmed that all students mentioned in the calls were safely at school.
Sondra Aguilera, chief academic officer for the district, issued a warning to parents in a Dec. 20 email, urging them not to fall victim to the scam when children return to classrooms in January.
“This scam reveals the heartlessness of some scammers and the lengths to which they will go to extort money from unsuspecting people,” stated Ms. Aguilera. “Being alert and prepared for any possible scenario can help protect families.”
Ms. Aguilera mentioned that the fraudulent calls took place in November and this month.
The email also assured parents that the district would directly communicate with them in the case of a true emergency, emphasizing that students would remain “safe and protected” once on campus.
In addition, the email suggested that parents receiving such calls during school hours should gather as much information as possible, including the caller’s phone number, and immediately contact the Oakland Police after hanging up.
This scam aligns with a trend of phone-based scams, identified as the most prevalent type in the United States last year, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
Micaela Ricaforte covers education in Southern California for The Epoch Times and is passionate about music, books, and coffee.
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