MONTICELLO, NY — The New York State Police are currently investigating several complaints of a telephone scam in which the caller threatens to harm a loved one if the receiver of the call does not send them money.

This common scam involves unknown individuals calling the scam victim and advising that their loved one has been involved in a motor vehicle accident or has been kidnapped. The calls are threatening in nature and usually involve the caller demanding that money be sent to an area outside of the United States or the person involved will be arrested or harmed.

Officials stress that any member of the public who receives one of these scam calls or who has been victimized should call and report the incident to their local policing agency.