Yavapai County Sheriff’s officials are warning of an increase of kidnapping scam calls. YCSO says deputies responded to a 9-1-1 call Monday morning from a mother who reported that she received a phone call from a man stating that he had kidnapped her eight-year-old daughter while she was waiting for her school bus in Prescott valley. The mother told them the man, who was speaking Spanish and yelling, demanded money from the family, or he would hurt her daughter. At one point he put what sounded like a little girl on the phone. The suspect attempted to get the family members to bring him money at a local Walmart before the mother hung up on him and called 911. Fortunately, YCSO deputies were able to confirm that the child was safe and in class already. She indicated that no one had approached her either before or during school. Deputies investigated and found that the number from which the suspect called did not exist so there was no way to track him down. YCSO urges everyone to be aware of these scams and use caution when receiving calls or messages about a kidnapping and demands for money. Also report any suspicious calls to your local law enforcement and don’t automatically presume it is a scam.