The father of an El Camino student was scammed out of $3,000 after receiving a phone call that said his daughter had been kidnapped on Sept. 8, according to the El Camino police.

An officer responded to the Music Building Room 7 regarding a welfare call, where the father of a female student wanted the officer to see if his daughter was in class.

The father said that he received a phone call from an unknown male subject that his daughter was being held hostage. The officer located the daughter in class and escorted her to her vehicle. The officer then followed her home to make sure she arrived safely.

It appears that the father was a victim of a phone scam where the caller tells the victim that their loved one has been kidnapped and then demands money. The father had already wired approximately $3,000 to the unknown subject.

Tips from the FBI to avoid becoming a victim, according to the Daily Breeze article:

“• Incoming calls made from an outside area code.

• Multiple successive phone calls.

• Calls do not come from the kidnapped victim’s phone.

• Callers go to great lengths to keep you on the phone.

• Callers prevent you from calling or locating the “kidnapped” victim.

• Ransom money is only accepted via wire transfer service.”