Detectives caution people about ongoing scam

Sheriff’s detectives say they have two more reports of ascam in which people received phone calls about injured loved ones along with arequest for money to make sure they remain safe.
On September 7^th, a Tavernier man received acall. The caller had a  Hispanic accent, was loud, profane and said he hadthe victim’s brother. He said the brother had been involved in an accident andwas now being held captive. He said “they” would kill the brother unless thevictim came up with $2,000.00.
The victim was instructed to go to a local Publix grocerystore and send the money via money order to Puerto Rico. The man would notallow the victim to hang up the phone, so he stayed on the phone and drove tohis brother’s house, which was just a short distance away. His brother washome, safe, and unaware of the phone call. When the caller was confronted withbeing a fraud, he hung up.
Detective Yunier Galvez has been assigned to investigate thecase.
On September 12^th, a Stock Island man received acall from a man who said his son had been in an accident on a moped. The callersaid “they” did not want the police involved, and wanted money for the moped.The caller said they were holding his son, who was injured, and would let himgo once they received $1,500.00 sent to Puerto Rico via Western Union. Thevictim said he only had $600.00. The caller agreed to that amount.
Like the previous report, the caller would not let the manoff the phone until he sent the money. The victim in this case did wire themoney. The caller insisted he stay on the phone the entire time. As the victimwas driving home, he saw his son driving to Stock Island and stopped, realizinghe’d been scammed.
The son told deputies he’d received the same call, only thecaller said his father had been in an accident and was injured. When the sonsaid he had no money, the caller put him on hold, then returned to the phone.The caller told him his father said there was jewelry at their house he couldpawn. The son got the jewelry, pawned it, and then wired the money asinstructed. The entire time, he was instructed to remain on the phone. Thecaller said if he hung up, they would assume he was calling police and theywould kill his father.
Once the father and son found each other, they realizedthey’d been scammed and called the Sheriff’s Office.

Detective David Cruz is investigating.