Miami Herald Logo

Coral Gables doctor’s quick thinking quells phone scam | Miami Herald

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Site Information
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Herald Store
    • RSS Feeds
    • Special Sections
    • Advertise
    • Advertise with Us
    • Media Kit
    • Mobile
    • Mobile Apps & eReaders
    • Newsletters
    • Social
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • YouTube

    • Sections
    • News
    • South Florida
    • Miami-Dade
    • Broward
    • Florida Keys
    • Florida
    • Politics
    • Weird News
    • Weather
    • National & World
    • Colombia
    • National
    • World
    • Americas
    • Cuba
    • Guantánamo
    • Haiti
    • Venezuela
    • Local Issues
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • In Depth
    • Issues & Ideas
    • Traffic
    • Sections
    • Sports
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Pro & College
    • Miami Dolphins
    • Miami Heat
    • Miami Marlins
    • Florida Panthers
    • College Sports
    • University of Miami
    • Florida International
    • University of Florida
    • Florida State University
    • More Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Auto Racing
    • Fighting
    • Golf
    • Horse Racing
    • Outdoors
    • Soccer
    • Tennis
    • Youth Sports
    • Other Sports
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • The Florida Influencer Series
    • Sections
    • Business
    • Business Monday
    • Banking
    • International Business
    • National Business
    • Personal Finance
    • Real Estate News
    • Small Business
    • Technology
    • Tourism & Cruises
    • Workplace
    • Business Plan Challenge
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Cindy Krischer Goodman
    • The Starting Gate
    • Work/Life Balancing Act
    • Movers
    • Sections
    • Living
    • Advice
    • Fashion
    • Food & Drink
    • Health & Fitness
    • Home & Garden
    • Pets
    • Recipes
    • Travel
    • Wine
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Dave Barry
    • Ana Veciana-Suarez
    • Flashback Miami
    • More Living
    • LGBTQ South Florida
    • Palette Magazine
    • Indulge Magazine
    • South Florida Album
    • Broward Album
    • Sections
    • Entertainment
    • Books
    • Comics
    • Games & Puzzles
    • Horoscopes
    • Movies
    • Music & Nightlife
    • People
    • Performing Arts
    • Restaurants
    • TV
    • Visual Arts
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Jose Lambiet
    • Lesley Abravanel
    • More Entertainment
    • Events Calendar
    • Miami.com
    • Contests & Promotions
    • Sections
    • All Opinion
    • Editorials
    • Op-Ed
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Jim Morin
    • Letters to the Editor
    • From Our Inbox
    • Speak Up
    • Submit a Letter
    • Meet the Editorial Board
    • Influencers Opinion
    • Blogs & Columnists
    • Blog Directory
    • Columnist Directory
    • Andres Oppenheimer
    • Carl Hiaasen
    • Leonard Pitts Jr.
    • Fabiola Santiago
    • Obituaries
    • Obituaries in the News
    • Place an Obituary

    • Place an ad
    • All Classifieds
    • Announcements
    • Apartments
    • Auctions/Sales
    • Automotive
    • Commercial Real Estate
    • Employment
    • Garage Sales
    • Legals
    • Merchandise
    • Obituaries
    • Pets
    • Public Notices
    • Real Estate
    • Services
  • Public Notices
  • Cars
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Real Estate
  • Mobile & Apps

  • el Nuevo Herald
  • Miami.com
  • Indulge

Crime

Coral Gables doctor’s quick thinking quells phone scam

By Charles Rabin

crabin@MiamiHerald.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

September 12, 2014 05:53 PM

The man on the phone told Dr. Carlos Wolf that he was holding his daughter hostage, and that he would cut off her finger if Wolf didn’t fork over $50,000.

To convince the plastic surgeon even further, a woman screaming in the background at one point took the phone and mumbled unintelligibly.

But the quick-thinking Wolf managed to keep the would-be kidnapper on the line for six or seven minutes — long enough to call and text his daughter and make certain she was fine.

Still, Wolf said whoever was on the other end of the phone and called his Coral Gables office Thursday did their homework. He said they knew where he worked and that he had a daughter, but they didn’t seem to know her name.

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

“It was really frightening,” Wolf said. “Finally, toward the end, my daughter called.”

Police say it’s an old scam they believe originated in Puerto Rico in 1999. From time-to-time it pops up locally, and all around the country. They believe the call to Wolf came from overseas.

Police said they haven’t noticed an uptick in the phone scam this year, but still warn residents to contact them if they receive a call. Being able to contact your child quickly is also helpful.

“It goes in waves,” Coral Gables police spokeswoman Kelly Denham said. “We haven’t had a complaint in a couple of years.”

  Comments  

Videos

Florida police officers replace elderly man’s stolen bicycle

Two men impersonating FBI agents rob Florida home

View More Video

Trending Stories

Why were former members of the U.S. military driving around Haiti heavily armed?

February 19, 2019 07:49 PM

Think Florida is a ‘sinful’ place to live? You’re right, according to this new study

February 20, 2019 01:18 PM

It’s not so hard for an immigrant to become a U.S. citizen. Here’s what you have to do

February 20, 2019 01:20 PM

Cuts are coming for Dolphins’ receivers, but there’s one their new coach raves about

February 19, 2019 12:31 PM

Americans arrested in Haiti driving around with an arsenal are flown to the U.S.

February 20, 2019 06:54 PM

Read Next

Sex offender wanted sex with a 14-year-old. He’ll be 60 before he gets out of prison.

Crime

Sex offender wanted sex with a 14-year-old. He’ll be 60 before he gets out of prison.

By David J. Neal

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 20, 2019 08:21 PM

Peter Bobal, a registered sex offender from Hallandale Beach, got 20 years in federal prison for enticement of a minor and committing a felony involving a minor. He texted a penis picture to 14 year old girl.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE CRIME

Woman attacking with a knife shot by deputy, Broward Sheriff’s Office says

Broward County

Woman attacking with a knife shot by deputy, Broward Sheriff’s Office says

February 20, 2019 12:30 PM

Crime

Man who hurled racial slurs at black teens pleads not guilty, but doesn’t show for court

February 20, 2019 12:06 PM
At least 1 person shot, 1 person running after incident involving 3 cars in Miami-Dade

Miami-Dade County

At least 1 person shot, 1 person running after incident involving 3 cars in Miami-Dade

February 20, 2019 02:02 PM

Crime

Fake feds in ‘FBI’ bulletproof vests invade a Miami Lakes home

February 20, 2019 12:50 PM
Miami Beach police release a video of a deadly shooting suspect

Miami Beach

Miami Beach police release a video of a deadly shooting suspect

February 20, 2019 07:32 AM
Man who pulled gun on black teens on MLK Day facing new charges under hate crime law

Crime

Man who pulled gun on black teens on MLK Day facing new charges under hate crime law

February 19, 2019 12:07 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Miami Herald App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Public Insight Network
  • Reader Panel
Advertising
  • Place a Classified
  • Media Kit
  • Commercial Printing
  • Public Notices
Copyright
Commenting Policy
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story