HAD KIDNAPPED ME, AND THEY WERE HOLDING ME FOR A CERTAIN SUM OF MONEY THAT HE HAD TO WIRE INTO THEIR ACCOUNT. SULA: A NEW ORLEANS FAMILY FRIGHTENED AFTER A PHONE CALL THAT LEAD A FATHER TO BELIEVE HIS DAUGHTER WAS KIDNAPPED. THE CALL WAS FAKE BUT THE THREAT SEEMED VERY REAL. IT’S CALLED VIRTUAL KIDNAPPING , AND TURNS OUT, IT’S HAPPENING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. GINA: SHERMAN DESSELLE JOINS US LIVE TONIGHT AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE VICTIM OF THE HOAX. SHERMAN: YOU HEARD A LITTLE BIT FROM SIMONE BOUSTEAD’S DAD GOT A CALL FROM WHAT LOOKED LIKE HIS DAUGHTER’S PHONE NUMBER. HE WAS TOLD HE HAD TO PAY A RANSOM TO PAY HER BACK. HE CALLED POLICE AGAINST THEIR WISHES. HERE’S MORE. >> I LIVE IN A VERY QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD. SHERMAN: SHE WAS ASLEEP AT HOME WHEN SHE GOT A KNOCK ON THE DOOR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. SEVERAL DEPUTIES WERE THERE, CHECKING TO SEE IF SHE WAS OK. HER FATHER RECEIVED A CALL FROM A MAN WHO SAID THEY KIDNAPPED HER, AND HE’LL NEED TO WIRE A LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO GET HER BACK. >> HE ASKED ME ABOUT 50 TIMES, ARE YOU OK? YES, I’M IN MY PAJAMAS WITH 3 POLICE OFFICERS. WOULD SOMEONE TELL ME WHAT’S GOING ON? REPORTER: THE CALL SEEMED REAL. IT CAME FROM HER PHONE NUMBER, EVEN SHOWED HER PICTURE. TURNS OUT IT WAS A HOAX CALLED VIRTUAL KIDNAPPING. >> WIMPERING IN THE BACKGROUND. SO IT SOUNDED LIKE I WAS INJURED. SHERMAN: CRIMINAL EXPERT PETER SCHARF SAYS THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME ACROSS THE COUNTRY. SCAMMERS FIND YOUR NUMBERS POSTED ON SITES LIKE FACEBOOK, AND USE IT TO TRICK YOUR LOVED ONES. AND THERE ARE WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF. >> WRITE A NARRATIVE. CONTACT LAW ENFORCEMENT. THEY’LL CONTACT FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. DON’T SEND A DIME. DON’T GIVE THEM ANY MORE INFORMATION THAT THEY ALREADY HAVE. SHERMAN: NOW BOUSTEAD SAYS SHE’LL BE MORE CAREFUL WHAT INFORMATION SHE PUTS ONLINE. >> I HAVE TAKEN MY PHONE NUMBER OFF SOCIAL MEDIA. MY CONTACTS ORIGINALLY HAD MOM AND DAD ON MY PHONE. SO IT WAS EASILY OBVIOUS WHO MY PARENTS WERE. SHERMAN: SHE ALSO HAS A YOUNG DAUGHTER. SHE HOPES SHE’S LEARNED HOW TO BE SAFE. >> THIS IS WHAT COULD HAPPEN WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR STUFF OUT THERE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THE WHOLE WORLD CAN SEE IT. THERE ARE BAD PEOPLE OUT THERE WITH BAD INTENTIONS. SHERMAN: MAKE YOU WANT TO CHECK YOUR OWN SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS. SINCE THEN, SIMONE’S ALSO BEEN INFORMING FRIENDS HOPING