
Man loses more than $4,000 after scammers spoof father’s number, claim parents are at gunpoint
By Ronald Green
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SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) - A man lost thousands of dollars after getting a call that appeared to come from his father’s phone number, with a stranger claiming his parents were being held at gunpoint.Curtis Indyke was asleep around 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 21 when he got a call that appeared to be from his dad, who lives in Virginia. Indyke lives in Arizona.“I answer the phone and it’s not my dad. It’s some other male saying he has my parents basically at gunpoint,” Indyke said.The caller told him to pay or his parents would be shot.While still on the phone, Indyke said he texted 911 to report his parents were being held hostage in Virginia. The person who claimed to be holding Indyke’s parents hostage continued making threats. In a panic, Indyke sent more than $4,000 through Apple Pay to two separate phone numbers.“And they also wanted $1,000 worth of crypto gift cards, which I’ve never even heard of. I’m in IT and I’ve never even heard of them,” Indyke said.Indyke said his bank bl