An old and extremely threatening phone call scam is back with a new twist. 

  • Scam call threatens loved one in return for money
  • Scammers may be targeting work phones
  • Don't answer number if you don't recognize it

Even one of News 13’s employees was targeted. Melissa Calhoun works as the station's digital media manager.

Tuesday when her work phone rang from a number she didn't recognize, she didn't immediately pick up.  

"But the caller called six times, so I got a little worried that somebody, a reporter, somebody out in the field might be trying to get a hold of me. So I picked up the phone. They said, 'Melissa Calhoun?' I said,'Yes.' 'Do you want to see your husband alive again,' is what they said,” said Calhoun.

Then the caller asked Calhoun to go to the nearest Publix’s grocery store and wire them money. Calhoun said she felt immediate panic set in for her loved one, but part of her still felt like it might be a scam.

What really made her worried was the amount of information the caller knew about her.

"When he mentioned my name specifically, my husband's name specifically that really was a red flag to me, like 'Oh my, this might be real,’” said Calhoun.  

Orlando police said this type of threatening scam phone call is not new.  

"Yeah years ago, five years ago,” said Angel Soto, scam call victim.  

Soto answered a similar call to Calhoun's years ago and understands how a person could be scared into sending money.

"It's hard because they are coming at you with a loved one, we got them, we are going to shoot them right now and so they panic. But you have to keep calm,” said Soto.  

But a recent change in the scam involves the type of phone the scammers call in on. Tuesday’s call came in on Calhoun's work phone.

Orlando police said work phones can definitely be targets too.

"I think if you work in the public venue, anybody can get you, through social engineering they are going to be able to get your name,” said Det. Michael Stevens with Orlando police.

Det. Stevens works in the economic crimes division and said getting a person's name or relative's name is not very hard.

"Not anymore with Facebook and Instagram, it's not. The more you put out on social media, the more you expose yourself,” said Det. Stevens.  

Police recommend for people to not answer numbers they don’t recognize.

Police also said, after an unknown call comes in, a person can Google the number along with the words "fraud" or "scam," to further investigate if it is a scam call.

There are also phone applications that can be helpful. One police recommend is called Mr. Number.

Calhoun downloaded this app and it shows that the number that called her as a high risk number. In the app, numerous people posted about how the caller was trying to scam money from people. The reports went as far back as December 2016.

For people who do pick up a call that is threatening in nature, police said to find a way to call 911.

"Find somebody, find help. Ok, Hey, I am on the phone, listen. Call the police.' Mouth it, write it on a piece of paper, get law enforcement involved,” said Det. Stevens.  

Calhoun did report this incident to police, but said the whole experience has still left her feeling like a victim.

“At first I was panicked, and then when I realized he was OK, it just turned to anger. And wanting to spread the word, and I just don't want this to happened to anybody else,” said Calhoun.

Police add that these crimes can be extremely difficult to investigate, because the callers are often from other countries.

We called the scam number, but no one answered.