A chilling scam is making the rounds in Central Texas, leaving at least one North Austin man convinced his family might be in immediate danger. He reported a string of calls, a menacing text, and a video that referenced his relatives and a specific home address. The message demanded $6,000 and came with audio of a screaming child, all designed to make him believe someone in his family had been kidnapped. Police are now warning residents to stay calm, double-check the story, and refuse to pay on the spot.
According to KXAN, the man filed a report after the callers used actual names of his relatives and an address connected to a family member to boost their credibility. The texts and video demanded $6,000, he told investigators, and the Llano Police Department followed up with a public advisory on Facebook. Sgt. Les Hartman of Llano Police explained to KXAN that scammers lean hard on fear, hoping people will panic, send money quickly, or hand over personal information before they can think things through.
How the con works
This type of fraud, often called a virtual kidnapping, depends on raw emotion and manufactured urgency. The goal is to shock victims with disturbing audio or images so they feel they have no time to confirm whether a loved one is actually in danger. The FBI has warned that criminal actors may send time-limited photos or manipulated “proof-of-life” videos, spoof caller ID, and push victims to pay immediately, according to the agency’s advisory. Those tactics can rattle even normally cautious people into reacting on impulse.
Police response and advice
Local departments are pushing a simple playbook: hang up, call the supposed victim using a trusted number, and get in touch with law enforcement before sending any money or buying gift cards. Sgt. Hartman told KXAN that spreading the word helps neighbors avoid becoming the next target, and officers urge residents to save screenshots, call logs, and any payment receipts that might help an investigation. If you feel threatened, police say to file a report with the agency that covers your area so they can watch for patterns and connect similar cases.
Not limited to Austin
Departments in other parts of Texas are seeing the same kind of scare tactics this winter. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office announced it would brief reporters on two scam cases on Feb. 12, according to KSAT, while the Amarillo Police Department issued a public alert after workers there received fake kidnapping calls in late January, as reported by KFDA. In each instance, officials say the pattern looks familiar: multiple contacts, loud background screams, and intense pressure to pay immediately, all of which should set off alarm bells…