Police: CMU Staffer Terrified By Fake Kidnapping-For-Ransom Scheme
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- A Carnegie Mellon employee was terrified on Tuesday by an elaborate, fake kidnapping-for-ransom scheme.
A crime alert was sent from the Carnegie Mellon Police, detailing the events.
According to officials, a Carnegie Mellon staff member received a phone call on his CMU-issued cellphone from an unknown caller, who told him that his wife had been kidnapped.
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He reportedly heard a woman screaming in the background and assumed it was his wife. The caller demanded a ransom for her safe return.
With help from co-workers, the man was able to verify that his wife was not kidnapped and was unharmed.
During the investigation, University Police discovered that another CMU staff member had been the target of a similar scheme last week.
Anyone that is targeted in this manner is urged to contact University Police immediately at (412)-268-2323.