A state agency said virtual kidnapping of a family member is the most popular way criminals use to attempt to commit phone fraud.
During the first four months of 2016, the state Center for Control, Command, Communications and Computing, also known as C-4, has received 5,448 reports of attempted phone fraud.
Most of the calls are made from the states of Jalisco, Mexico City, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas, said the state Secretary of Public Safety.
Criminals call residents to report a family member has been kidnapped.
The suspects threatened victims and demand a cash deposit or transfer.
Suspects are also attempting to obtain victims’ personal information like names, addresses, and telephone numbers. Authorities asked residents to not provide such information.
The victims are asked then to leave home and abscond in a hotel and turn their cell phones off. During that time, suspects call the victims’ family members to commit the fraud.
Residents can call the police hotline 089 or ask for help through the application 089MovilBC to report any incident.
Authorities suggest to hang up the phone, stay calm, call family members, and file a claim.
Woman dies in accident
A woman died and four people got injured Monday after the deceased female crashed her vehicle against a public transportation bus, said the Municipal Public Safety Department.
Authorities said the deceased woman was identified as Colonia Nuevo Mexicali resident Herminia Aguilar Betamen, no age reported.
According to the police, Karen Vianey Slemer Gallegos, 21, was driving a 2001 gray Ford Focus with California plates that impacted an Atusa company bus driven by Caín Solano Guevara, 38.
Also injured during the accident were Lía Licón Jiménez Slemer, 1; Cinthia Gallegos Aguilar, 44; and Adrián Gallegos Aguilar, 41.
The accident was reported at 1 p.m. at Tenth Street and Río Verde Street at Fraccionamiento Nuevo Mexicali neighborhood in eastern Mexicali.
Authorities determined that the responsible party was the driver of the Ford Focus.
Robbery suspects arrested
A couple was arrested Monday after a robbery was reported at a convenience store, said the Municipal Public Safety Department.
Authorities said at 3:40 p.m. a robbery was reported at the Oxxo store of Gobernadora Avenue and Nilo Street at Fraccionamiento Hacienda de Castilla neighborhood in southern Mexicali.
The suspects, who were identified as Sergio “Doe,” 23, and Oriana Natalia “Doe,” 33, were arrested for their alleged relationship with the incident.
According to the store cashier, the suspects arrived on scene brandished a 6-inch knife and demanded money.
The suspects took 450 pesos or US $27.
The suspects were transported to the police headquarters.
Robbery suspect indicted
A man who allegedly committed a robbery in an event center was indicted by a state judge, said the Attorney General’s office.
Assistant Attorney General in Mexicali Fernando Ramírez said Pilar Enrique “Doe,” 33, has been accused of a robbery reported May 2 at an event center located at Manuel Silíceo Avenue at Colonia Solidaridad Social.
The suspect was caught by the owner’s mother while attempting to rob electric wire and several lamps.
The suspect then brandished a knife and threatened the victim.
An employee confronted and neutralized the suspect.
The judge gave detectives and prosecutors two months to close the investigation, Ramírez said.
Inflation rates underline Mexicali, Tijuana
The National Institute of Statistics and Geography, known in Spanish as INEGI, released its report of the National Consumer Price Index for April 2016.
According to the report, Mexicali and Tijuana were numbers one and two nationwide, respectively, in inflation rates.
Prices at the state capital city increased 1.30 percent while the state’s largest city observed an augmentation of .072 percent.
Mexicali was among the lowest in price increases for months, according to previous reports.
The INEGI explained the price increase in Mexicali was due to a climb in items like clothes, shoes, homes, furniture, electronic appliances, healthcare, personal care, transportation and other services.
