By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD – As area students prepare to go back to school, scammers are attempting to use that as leverage to gain sensitive information.
The Safford Unified School District issued a warning on Thursday regarding a new phone scam in which the perpetrator claims to be from a drug cartel that has kidnapped a child. According to the warning, artificial intelligence could also be used to mimic a child’s voice, thereby heightening the ruse and increasing panic.
In reality, the children are safe at school and haven’t been kidnapped. The calls are often just a means to gather information or are intended to prompt the caller to make a payment of some sort.
In a social media post, SUSD Superintendent AJ Taylor advised that the school was working with local law enforcement regarding the scam.
“Parents and guardians are advised not to engage with or return these calls, and to avoid sharing any sensitive information with the caller,” Taylor wrote. “Hang up immediately and report the call to local law enforcement. Please realize you can always call your child’s school to verify if they are in school.”
