Man Claims to Be Holding Relatives Hostage to Extort Locals for Cash

City of Fairfax Police reported a frightening scam this week in which local families were told their loved ones were being held captive.

Two similar incidents were reported, both on Sunday, Jan. 12.

In the first incident, a woman who lives in the 3600 block of Chain Bridge Road said she received a call around 9:12 a.m. from an unknown man claiming that her son had been involved in a car accident, and that he was being held hostage and would be killed if she did not come to meet him and bring cash.

The victim said she hung up on the caller and immediately called her son's friend's house where he had spent the night, and was told he was there and safe.

The second incident took place at 3:37 p.m. The victim was a man who lives in the 10600 block of Main Street.

The man reported that he received a phone call from an unknown man telling him that his wife and daughter had been in a car accident and that he was holding them captive at gunpoint. 

Before the caller could say anything further, the man hung up and immediately called the police.

Police are investigating the fraudulent phone calls.


Have you ever heard of anyone receiving similar scam calls? Tell us in the comments.

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