TikTok scammer demands $3,000 to return cremated ashes, California cops say
.jpg "A TikTok offer involving art using cremated ashes turned out to be a scam that snared a Petaluma resident, California police say.")
A Petaluma resident told police someone on TikTok offered to turn cremated ashes into artwork but then demanded thousands of dollars to return the remains, California officials reported.
After paying the fee and sending the ashes, the resident faced threats and blackmail, Petaluma police said in a Jan. 7 news release.
The scammer also demanded $3,000 to return the ashes, police said.
The resident notified police and asked to have the story shared to prevent anyone else from falling victim to the scam, the release said.
“Be extremely cautious when purchasing items from online platforms,” police warned.
Police also advised online shoppers to check for multiple positive reviews and avoid offers that seem too good to be true. If you think you are the victim of a scam, notify your bank, police and the Federal Trade Commission.
Petaluma is a city of 60,000 people near Santa Rosa and about 40 miles north of San Francisco.
This story was originally published January 9, 2023 at 11:00 AM with the headline "TikTok scammer demands $3,000 to return cremated ashes, California cops say."