GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A Gwinnett County family was scammed out of hundreds of dollars after a group of scammers convinced them Perla Ortega Gonzalez, 18, had been abducted by Mexican authorities, according to police.
The complex scheme caused the teen to go missing from her Lawrenceville apartment complex after authorities said they convinced her she was in danger.
They convinced Gonzalez's family, too. Gonzalez' father called her aunt, Yahaira Govea.
"They sent a lot of voicemails...voicemails with a lot of bad things and bad words," Govea said.
Gonzalez' father believed it, especially when she went missing for a few days.
"She doesn't know anybody here," Govea said. "So, that's why she doesn't go out. She doesn't know any stores. She doesn't know anything around her. So, that's why when she doesn't come home in two hours, they know something happened."
Govea said Gonzalez just moved to America two months ago. Her father did what any parent would do—get his daughter back by any means necessary, even shoveling out hundreds of dollars to the fraudulent texters.
"If it is real...I need to move to do something," Govea said.
It all started after Gwinnett County Police said the teen received a call from someone claiming to be from the Mexican government. Gonzalez was told that her cell phone had been used to make death threats toward authorities in Mexico.
Police said when Gonzalez denied what they were accusing her of, the scammers then told the teen that her family was also in danger. Over the next two days, she gave the group information about her family and even her text messaging app login information, police said.
Govea said she knew something was fishy, so she called Gwinnett County Police, who worked with the FBI to get to the truth. Gwinnett County Police Public Information Officer Cpl. J. C. Mediedo said scammers are getting more creative.
"They manipulated (Perla) enough that she put her phone on airplane mode, and we were unable to track her location, weren't able to get in contact with her," Mediedo said.
The scammers even convinced Gonzalez to send a picture of herself looking sad because "her appearance would make her investigation reach a higher priority," according to Gwinnett County Police. That photo was then sent to the 18-year-old's family, which convinced them of the scam and showed they had "proof" their daughter was kidnapped, police said.
Her father then met with police, where he told them he believed Mexican authorities had abducted his daughter. Gwinnett Police immediately involved the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The girl's father was told he needed to pay $15,000 for her safe return, but initially asked for a $440 payment, which police said he sent to them.
While this was going on, the teen left her apartment, fearing that the suspects were going to come after her. She ended up camping out alone at a lake near her apartment for two days before leaving the woods to charge her phone once it was at one percent, police said.
Two days later, an undercover officer saw her walking down Sweetwater Road and was able to reunite her with her dad safely, police said.
Mediedo suggests people be cautious and confirm your loved one's location first.
"If you get a text message from WhatsApp from unknown parties, go ahead and block immediately," Mediedo said.
The suspects were actually in Mexico.
Govea said Gonzalez is safe, was reunited with family, and moved to Texas with her father.
Her message to undocumented families is to not be afraid to call the police, as doing so protected them from further trouble. She's grateful the ending wasn't worse.
"Be careful with your kids," Govea said. "And talk a lot with your kids because everything happens right now."
"We urge you to educate yourselves about these crimes and share your knowledge with your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers. Start a conversation, talk about this case. Develop a plan if you or someone you know receives a suspicious phone call, text message, or email. When in doubt, discontinue the conversation and verify the facts yourself. And never give out your or your family’s personal information," Gwinnett Police said in a release.
Gwinnett County Police said they believe the suspects involved in this abduction scheme are believed to be in Mexico, but they do not know their identities. Anyone with information about them is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers Atlanta at 404-577-8477.