FBI warning about fake kidnapping phone scam, reports in St. Johns County

Jacksonville, FL — A familiar scam seems to be making the rounds again.

The FBI is launching a new awareness campaign about a fake kidnapping scam, after receiving hundreds of reports of similar calls, including some in St. Johns County.

During the call, we're told the scammers will claim to have kidnapped your child and if you want them back alive, you have to pay up.

FBI Assistant Section Chief Tim Ferguson tells our partner Action News Jax, the calls usually come from criminals in Mexican prisons, using cell phones that have been smuggled in.

"It's a get rich quick scheme, where they can extort victims and have them wire money into Mexico," explains Ferguson.

Ferguson says after making the calls, family or friends of the prisoners will pick up the cash sent by the victims.

To know if the call you're getting is a fake, the FBI says out-of-state area codes are one tip off. Requests to wire smaller amounts of money from multiple locations down to Mexico is another.