Arizona man loses $4,000 in phone scam

Curtis Indyke lost more than $4,000 to phone scammers on Oct. 21 after receiving a call that appeared to come from his father. Indyke resides in Scottsdale, Ariz., while his parents live in Virginia.

The incident began around 11:30 p.m. when Indyke, who works in information technology, woke up to answer his phone. The caller claimed his parents were being held at gunpoint and threatened to shoot them if payment was not made. Indyke stated he texted 911 to report the hostage situation while still speaking with the caller.

In a state of panic, Indyke transferred over $4,000 via Apple Pay to two separate phone numbers. The scammers also requested $1,000 worth of crypto gift cards, which Indyke noted he had never heard of despite his tech background. His bank blocked the purchase of the digital gift cards.

After the call ended, Indyke called his father’s number back but received no answer. He feared the caller still possessed his father’s phone. Police in Virginia later conducted a welfare check at the parents' home and found them safe.

Dawn Alexander, a network specialist for AARP Arizona, described the incident as a common tactic. She said the scammers aim to create a heightened emotional state to force a reaction. Alexander noted that spoofing technology allows callers to disguise their identity as anyone, from Medicare representatives to family members.

Indyke said the recent high-profile disappearance of Nancy Guthrie in Arizona immediately came to mind. He recalled thinking, "Oh my God, is this happening to me now?" The case has left him and his family shocked.

Indyke advised potential victims to pause before reacting. He suggested hanging up and calling the person they claim to have to verify the situation. The $4,000 payment remains pending, and Indyke plans to file a fraud claim once the transaction clears to attempt to recover the funds.

Alexander added that while these scams traditionally targeted older adults, the use of artificial intelligence now makes anyone a potential victim.