Police say a nationwide phone scam is circulating where male suspects are calling random people and stating they have kidnapped their daughter, usually with a female's voice on the line saying "Daddy, daddy." The caller demands money and then directs the potential scam victim to a store where they can wire money to a bank account in Mexico. According to police, the callers typically have a country code such as "525" preceding a long number.

According to a Chico P.D. press release, elderly citizens are especially at risk.