The King County Sheriff’s Office is warning people about a kidnapping scam reported last week.

In two separate instances, parents have reported receiving a phone call from someone stating their child has been kidnapped and demanded money for their return.

The first instance was on March 8, when a mother in the Ravensdale area reported that, a short time after she had dropped her two children off at the school bus in the morning, she had received a phone call from a blocked number. According to a media release, a male caller told the woman he had her daughter, even using her real name, although it was slightly wrong. He told the woman that if she didn’t meet him with money, he would “kill the child.” The mother called the school and confirmed her daughters were in school and safe.

On March 12, a man in unincorporated King County near White Center reported a similar phone call, this time with a female suspect.

According to the release, the female stated the man’s daughter was kidnapped and if he didn’t provide money for her release, the girl would be harmed. The suspect then hung up on the man, and he had no way to call back because the number was blocked. The man called his daughter’s school and once again confirmed she was safe.

“Please keep in mind these type of phone calls are scams,” according to the release. “Never provide money to anyone over the phone.”

The media release advised people who receive one of these phone calls to confirm with their child’s school their child is safe and then to call 911 and report the incident.

— Compiled by Mirror staff