One father from Botetourt County experienced a phone call that many would consider a parent’s worst nightmare.
Parke Slater, a retired law enforcement officer, found himself in an unsettling situation.
On a typical day, he received a call from a number with a Mexico area code, which initially didn’t raise any red flags as he often receives work-related calls from various locations.
To his surprise, the call turned out to be from his daughter, who was in distress, claiming she had been kidnapped and forced into a van, urgently seeking help.
Upon hearing his daughter’s voice filled with tears, Slater’s instincts kicked in. He engaged in a brief conversation with the caller, posing questions to verify the authenticity of the situation. When the caller failed to provide his daughter’s name, Slater recognized it as a potential scam and promptly ended the call.
Despite being able to discern the fraudulent nature of the call, Slater admitted that as a parent, the experience was still distressing. He immediately contacted his daughter and confirmed her safety.
Imposter scams like the one Slater encountered are alarmingly common, as per the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), resulting in substantial financial losses. In 2022 alone, the FTC reported a staggering $2.6 billion lost in the U.S. due to such scams.
Virginia Tech Professor Cayce Myers emphasized the importance of vigilance and suggested tactics to safeguard against such fraudulent schemes. Asking specific questions to verify the caller’s identity and being wary of prolonged pauses during the conversation, which could indicate call cloning, are crucial preventive measures.
Slater’s story serves as a stark reminder that no one is immune to these scams, highlighting the need for increased awareness and caution. Despite his background in law enforcement, Slater acknowledged the potential vulnerability of individuals to such deceptive practices, underscoring the collective effort required to combat and prevent these fraudulent activities.
