Oakland Parents Warned About Scam Calls Exploiting Fear of Child Kidnapping The Oakland Unified School District is alerting parents to a disturbing scam involving fraudulent phone calls that exploit the fear of child kidnapping. According to reports, some families have received calls from strangers claiming to have kidnapped their child and demanding a ransom for their release. These calls have been made during school hours, with the caller even using a child’s voice in the background, pleading for help. The scammer then demands money in exchange for the safe return of the child. The school district has confirmed that this attempted scam has occurred multiple times, with one incident happening this week and others earlier this month and during the fall. However, in all cases, the children were safe and in school. Sondra Aguilera, the chief academic officer of OUSD, expressed concern over the heartlessness of these scammers and their willingness to exploit unsuspecting parents. OUSD officials want to reassure parents that students are safe and protected within district schools. They also emphasized that parents would be notified if their child is absent from class. To address this scam, OUSD is advising parents to take certain precautions. They recommend writing down the phone number of anyone claiming to have their child, gathering as much information about the caller as possible, and immediately reporting the suspected scammers to the Oakland police. Parents should also contact their child’s school to confirm that their child is present and safe. It is disheartening to see scammers exploit the genuine fears and concerns of parents. The Oakland Unified School District is actively working to raise awareness about this scam and provide support to families affected by it. By staying vigilant and taking the recommended precautions, parents can help protect themselves and their children from falling victim to such cruel schemes.