MONTGOMERY — Michael Rollert of Montgomery, Texas, received a phone call at approximately 3:15 a.m. while attending a bachelor party in Port Aransas. The caller ID displayed the name and phone number of Rollert's mother, and a male caller subsequently claimed to be holding her.
The caller demanded $3,000 to be sent via Cash App. Rollert prepared to transfer the requested funds. "My first thought was maybe she'd been in a wreck. Maybe somebody was calling from her phone to tell me she needed help," Rollert said.
The caller correctly identified the East Texas town where Rollert's parents recently moved and provided accurate descriptions of their home. "It's a lot of money, but it's not like he was asking for $50,000 or some crazy amount. It was believable," Rollert said. The call disconnected before the transfer was completed.
Rollert contacted his mother directly and confirmed she was safe at her residence. Law enforcement was notified of the incident, and no funds were transferred. Rollert later posted a video on Facebook detailing the incident.