In a Scam, Darien Family Told Daughter Kidnapped

A Darien family was victimized by a cruel scam conducted by phone Wednesday when they received a call that their daughter had been kidnapped.

The girl's parents rushed to Darien Police Headquarters after a caller told them she had been involved in a car accident with his brother, a gang member wanted by the police, and he wanted $800 to pay for the damage before he would release the girl.

The parents were told to go directly to an ATM to get the money and that the caller was at that moment at the scene of the accident.

The caller was still on the telephone when the girl's parents went to the police station. At some point, police say, the call was terminated without payment being made.

The parents soon learned that their daughter had not been kidnapped and was not in a motor vehicle accident.

Darien police say residents should be wary of anyone making a similar call to them. "The callers may have some pedigree or personal information regarding the family member, making the phone call seem legitimate," police said in a news release. "Local media reports from states along the East Coast are reporting similar variations of this scam."

For information on other types of scams, see the Darien Police website.