It certainly sounds like a nightmare scenario, an incident that unfolds like the first few minutes of a Liam Neeson action movie: someone you love has been kidnapped, and you get a call from the bad guys asking you for a ransom...or else!

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According to the Pittsfield Police Department, this is the newest method scammers are employing to get money from concerned friends and family members.

Authorities call it a "virtual kidnapping extortion scheme."

Read More: Maine Residents Face One of the Highest Scam Risks in America

The Pittsfield PD made a social media post about it this week, warning residents that as convincing as those phone calls may sound, always check into the situation before sending money anywhere. They had someone call into the police department saying they'd been contacted by an individual using her spouse's phone number and caller ID photo.

"When they answered, it was not their spouse, but a highly agitated subject demanding money or their spouse would be seriously injured or killed. As we can all imagine, emotions instantly run high. Luckily, the person receiving the call was able to contact their spouse, who was at their place of employment and was safe."

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Here's what the pros say to do if you find yourself the recipient of such a phone call.

First: Do Not Comply! Don't engage and don't pay! Do not give the caller any personal information, banking information, or permission to make any kind of transfer or withdrawal from your bank accounts.

Second: Verify. Ask the caller to let you speak directly to your loved one, so you can verify it's them (they're likely not going to let you do this, as they don't actually have that person with them). Ask them questions that only your loved one would know the answer to (without giving them the answer, of course). Then, reach out directly to the family member they claim to have. Call, text, email, message through social media. However you usually get in contact with your loved one, use that method and see if they respond.

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Third: Gather Clues. Without giving any information away (not your name or your loved one's name, or any addresses, etc.), if you remain on the line, see if you can get info from the caller! Where are they located? Do they have an accent? Is there more than one person on the line with you? Where do they want the money sent, and how? All of these details may help authorities in the long run. Just be careful while you're gathering that info, not to give out any of your own.

Fourth: Report the call. Start with your local law enforcement agency, so they can help determine if there's an actual threat or not, and take the appropriate action. Then, reach out to federal authorities like the FBI via your nearest field office. They can direct you to their special Internet Crime Complaint Center. You will also want to report the incident to the Federal Trade Commission, as it's actually considered fraud.

The more these agencies know about these situations, the better they can tailor their plans to go after these criminals.

Read More: What Parents Need To Know About Online Risks For Kids

Unfortunately, fraudsters find new and more convincing ways to try to fleece families and individuals every day, especially now with the advent of AI.

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Stay alert. Trust your gut. Ask questions and try to verify information. And only perform financial transactions with reputable institutions that you know and trust.

For those who have younger or older family members or neighbors with cell phones, it's probably not a bad idea to have a quick chat, looping them in to this latest scam alert.

Stay safe out there, and always be cautious.