I just got a call from that same 617 number in Boston. Same story - that my brother got in an accident and I needed to help them out. He said his name is Tony too. I had a hard time understanding through his heavy accent but when I asked him my brother's name, he hung up. Looks like he didn't ditch the phone just yet. Keep spreading the word...

I received a similar call just the other day from 617-459-3412 in the Boston,MA area. The guy said his name was Tony and that my brother got into an accident at a gas station and now his cousin was holding him at gunpoint. Fortunately, a colleague of mine overheard and told me if was a scam. I hung up but the guy continued to call me...11 times. Also sent harassing text messages saying he would shoot "this guy." He knew my name which was scary. However, he misspelled it via text. I blocked the call and filed a police report but it is unlikely that he will be caught because they use burner phones. Police said this is not uncommon and they heard similar versions of this story. Told me to spread the word. People really suck sometimes.

I received the same call from a Spanish guy.  The same m o he stated my son hit his brother's car at the gasoline station he hit his BMW.  When I told him we had insurance and the insurance company could pay for the damages his whole attitude changed.  He then started calling me all kinds of curse words.  What bothered me was he knew the name make and model of my car which my son was driving and he did have to go to the gasoline station to get gas.  Even though he told me not to call anyone or else he was going to shoot my son his head and the reason why I couldn't call the police was because his brother was a big time drug dealer.  I was crying my heart was beating very fast.  I couldn't catch my breath.  The more I cried and started praying to The Lord the more he got upset.  I finally called my husband on the other line.  Anyway, he was telling my husband what happened and because I didn't follow his directions it is now a kidnaping and the ransom had went from $600.00 to 1000.00.  Somehow I got disconnected from the two and was able to contact my son and I found out he was okay.  THANKS BE TO JESUS!  Someone could have really got hurt like myself I though I was having a heart attack after going to the ER after days of having heart palpitations and not being able to catch my breath.  The hospital kept me overnight to monitor my heart.  I was told when being released I was told that it was a panic attack and today like right now I'm still shaking.  Afterwards I started to think about how many things that just didn't add up but in the heat of the moment your not thinking about these things all your thinking about is your love one.  Someone could have got hurt real bad.  After calling the police and doing a police report the female police officer informed me that this situation has been going on for a long time and it is very hard for them to do anything because the person is using a prepaid phone which is called a drop phone.  It can be purchased in the 711 for under 25.00 bucks and then it could be thrown away.  How sad this has got to be STOPPED!

Said my daughter was gonna gEt shot if I didn't give them money. Said the last thing I would hear if gunshots. I told them the las thing they would hear was a saw splitting their heads. I like to call and mess with them

I received a call from this number on Saturday and fell victim to the scam. It was absolutely terrifying and while I see holes in the story now it was very real at the time. The man on the phone was threatening my life and everyone else that I know. The police said that they couldn't do anything. They didn't even take down the name of the person who was collecting the money on the other end of the wire transfer, saying it was out of their jurisdiction.

I got the same call from the same number yesterday. Almost felt victim for it. After realized it is a scam, called the police and filed a report.

If this were happening since Feb., why haven't they catch the guy. I thought NSA is logging all phone calls.

The call was about a family member who was in a car accident and did I have a brother or a son and then they wanted $700.  Only I have another number they were using on the same call: 939-579-1460.

just wanna catch this grown kid and show him what messing with some people would do to him

He called me today saying the same thing about my brother was in an accident and was bleeding and couldn't talk, had me scared for a second...

They call and ask for money in oder to save my friend's life

called me to say a male relative that was driving was in a serious accident, when I starting asking questions they hung up... yup, be a scam

I just got the "son or brother"  in an accident call.  He claimed my son was in a horrible accident and could barely speak.  I told him my son was with me.  He insisted it must be my brother.  I asked him to hold and he hung up.  What an awful thing to do to some one!  I hope he gets hit by a truck!

just received a call in MA from this number....very convincing..called the police and hope someone tracks this down.

The number just called me and said my husband or son was in a bad accident, I could hear a lot of wind noise. I was asking what they were driving, etc. He said the person was badly injured, could barely talk and had provided this #. I kept just saying I don't know who that would be and he told me he was in the same state I was in. He hung up on me.

I just received the call from 301-653-5495, and the dude said my son was in a car accident and he had been smashed over the head with a gun and was really bad, and to wire them 500.$ and they wouldn't kill him, i told the guy in no uncertain terms to screww and he said i was gonna be killed also, i finally told him to describe my sons car, and how many friends were with him.....i screamed so loud at this guy, he was freaking out....then he hung up and i called my son, and thankfully he was home aqnd hadnt left for his trip yet.....if i could have seen this guy i would have smashed him, i called the cops but they did nothing.....:(

This number called me and said my brother was in an accident, and then he goes on to say he's gonna be very honest with me and says his brother is a gang and got out of the car after the accident and pulled out his gun and hit my brother in the head and he is seriously injured. I said what's his name, and the caller male said he can't speak then went on to say if I called his cell or the cops or anyone else in the family they would come after me. I then asked where did the accident happen and they said the state of course I live in. I then said if you really have him then i want to speak to him or hanging up, the caller got mad saying swear you will not make demands I will make the demands or you won't see him again, then I said K I have no brother then they got mad said a lot of nasty stuff and hung up.....  If you get this call it is bull!!

I answered the call thinking it was a relative because the number started off just like mine and a lot of people I know live in the same area and our numbers start off the same. My story is exactly like the person that has there name as "it happened again...." I was caught of gaurd because I was a work and my brother is away at school and for a minute I was not thinking clearly until later in the conversation he bought up the money. After my scam radar went off in my head I had my co worker call my brother and he was safe. This idiot was still on the phone going through his spill. After hanging up on him he continued to call back. I gave a police report even though I know it wont change much after reading all these stories. I am currently working on getting this information to the new stations so people can be aware of this scam. I would hate for someone to give him money or almost have an heart attack like me.

Just got a call from this number.  Caller would not identify himself but kept asking do I have a son or brother because they were in an accident.  Total scam.

Same call, dude is a scam, said brother injured in car accident and wanted 500 to western union

Add one more to the list.  Today (April 24th) I got the same call.  Curiously, when I told them I had no family in Maryland, the state magically switched from Maryland to the state where I told them my brother lived.  Hmm.

Son received call saying his little brother was being held for ransom after a car accident. Man had a Hispanic accent. Spoke with Sheriff's office and referred me to this site. Luckily, verification that was timely to prevent any unnecessary action and all ended up okay. Unbelievable. It is important to have awareness of this and spread the word.

Got scammed by the calling saying they were holding my brother.  I had to wire money in order to get him back.  I got scared by it because they called my brother by name and I sent the money.

I received a phone call today at work stating that my son or brother was in a car accident and unable to speak.  The caller was very demanding and rude on the phone demanding that I give them money.  When I continued to question, what the person looked like that was injuried, he said it didn't matter that I needed to send money to help him.  I ended up hanging up on him.

It's still happening.  I just got a call. Same story as the others.  I have received a real one of these calls from an accident scene and immediately questioned why he couldn't give any details about the vehicle or location.  I didn't stay on the phone long enough for exchange of words.

Same m.o. I. Asked to speak to my son, asked what kind of car he was driving. He changed the subject warning me of violence to my son if the money wasn't sent or if police were contacted . I them informed him that my other son was a cop. Lots ofvulgarity and hang up.

We received the same call about our brother hitting a BMW and they were holding him hostage. My husband told them off and he hung up after saying a few curses. I thought extortion across state lines was a Federal offense! We are reporting it to the Maryland State Police but sounds like nothing will come of it.

Got a call he had my cousin hostage was going to shoot him in the head if i didnt wire him 700$

I got this call at 6:30 am in California. My does not drive so and my brother is in another state. We talked for awhile and the guy kept calling me rude names and getting angry with me. After I hung up I was thinking that hitting a BMW would cost alot more then the $500.00 they were asking for. I did contact the Sheriffs office in the county of Maryland where the number was from and said there was noting they could do but the callers might call back. I hope they do I have some info for them.

Father received phone call from the is number and was told that I ran into the back of his partners BMW and if he did give him money he was going to kill the MF. Filed a police report and was told to be aware of any phone # from area codes 809 / 876 / or 284.

so after a txt and a few calls, a guy answered. he first got irate as to why i was calling. when i told him i was returning a missed call he changed his tone quickly. saying my brother or son was in a bad accident. he hung up after my bf was messing with him. now we keep calling them. its makin them mad as hell lmao