JACKSON COUNTY, Ore. — Two new scams targeting vulnerable people in the community have been identified by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO).

Scam #1: Runaway Child Hoax

Over 100 similar ransom scams have been tracked by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) since 2020. After taking information from a social media post about a missing juvenile, scammers sent the family a video that could only be viewed once—likely AI-generated—showing the child restrained in a chair, demanding $1,500 or they would harm their family member.

The call originated from a Canadian phone number. The family confirmed the juvenile was safe. This is the second local scam of this kind in less than a month.

NCMEC strongly advises families to allow authorities to create and distri

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