Authorities think that scammers calling wealthy Southern Californians to demand thousands of dollars in exchange for the return of children who they falsely claim have been kidnapped have roots in Mexico, specifically in Mexican prisons.
"We do believe that phone calls are coming from out of the country, including Mexico, and that money transfers have been sent out of the country," said FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller.
Police were able to stop one victim — authorities did not identify the parents —who was driving to a Costa Mesa retailer to wire money to Mexico, Cota said.Police think the most recent scammers were sending victims to the same place, a Costa Mesa storefront where remittances to Mexico can be made. Gross thinks that when she uttered the name of her daughter, the scammers took note and subsequently used it — one reason authorities warn not to engage with the suspects.Authorities think that suspects use social media to gather information about potential targets.
In some cases, investigators believe, the callers are Mexican prisoners, some of whom may have spent in the United States. Laguna Beach police investigated a case last year in which the suspect, Cota said, sounded like a convict.Paul Bersebach / Orange County Register/SCNG file
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