Mariposa County, CA – The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) is warning the public about a kidnapping scam following the missing person case of Nancy Guthrie, mother of NBC Today co-host Savannah Guthrie.

Law enforcement agencies are reporting an increase in scam phone calls designed to create fear and panic in communities.

“These scams are not new, but due to the heightened interest in the high-profile missing persons cases in the news, scammers appear to be taking advantage of the situation and are out in full force,” advised sheriff’s officials.

According to investigators, this scam involves the con artist “calling residents and claiming that a loved one has been kidnapped, then demanding a ransom be paid immediately, often through cash apps, online payments, wire transfers, or gift cards.”

Sheriff’s officials offer these tips regarding scams:

• Do not send money to anyone who contacts you this way.
• Do not provide personal information.
• Hang up immediately.
• Call our office right away to report the call.

Anyone receiving a call related to this scam is asked to call their local law enforcement immediately to document the incident so it can be investigated.

Mariposa Authorities Warning Of Kidnapping Scam

Canadian and UK finance groups pause new ventures with DP World over CEO’s emails with Epstein

A spin, a patch of grass and inches from a crash, Casey Mears still makes the Daytona 500

Hisatsune leads Pebble Beach on a gorgeous day with low scores. Scheffler didn’t take advantage

No. 21 North Carolina women rout SMU 94-42 for 8th straight victory

Traffic Alert: Bicycle Race In Copperopolis

A judge orders DHS to give Minnesota detainees swift access to lawyers before transfers

Palestinian protester, detained for nearly a year, says ‘inhumane’ jail conditions prompted seizure

DC sues landlords with law used in organized crime to stop mistreatment of low-income tenants

Judge grants Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss a preliminary injunction for extra eligibility

Royals acquire RHP Mitch Spence from the Athletics for RHP A.J. Causey

Judge dismisses California deportation case for Mexican father of 3 US Marines

Iowa bus crash killed a 19-year-old college baseball player from South Dakota, officials say

California announces investigation into delayed evacuation orders during LA-area wildfire

2 teens charged with attempted murder for allegedly plotting mass shooting at Indiana high school

Arizona GOP candidate drops out of primary, narrowing field to two

GOP senator says he’s open to compromise on Trump’s nominee to chair the Federal Reserve

A look at false claims made by the Trump administration as it revokes a key scientific finding

Arsenal’s Premier League title bid takes a hit after 1-1 draw at Brentford

Update: A Brawl Ended In The Arrest Of A Sonora Man Several Days Later

Scientific studies calculate climate change as health danger, while Trump calls it a ‘scam’

Anthropic hits a $380B valuation as it heightens competition with OpenAI

A timeline of the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown in Minnesota

Trump administration reaches a trade deal to lower Taiwan’s tariff barriers

Analilia Mejia, progressive ally of Bernie Sanders, wins special New Jersey House primary