Fremont police investigate separate kidnapping scams

FREMONT, Calif. -- Police in Fremont are investigating two separate kidnapping scam incidents that were reported last week.

On June 4, a victim reported receiving a call from an unknown man stating the man had the victim's daughter.

The man told the victim he would release his daughter once the victim sent the man money, police said.

The victim was able to determine his daughter had not been kidnapped and was located at her job, police said.

Also on June 4, a woman reported her friend received a call from someone stating her daughter had been kidnapped.

The caller told the victim her daughter would be released once they were paid money, police said.

Officers located the daughter at work shortly after.

Police then looked for the mother, who was located at a grocery store in Newark.

Police said the mother initially said she was blindfolded and driven to the store by two men to get money and was afraid to leave the store because they were outside.

The mother later changed her statement and admitted the only contact she had the people that reportedly had her daughter was over the phone, police said.