A woman was crying in the background as the caller delivered a threat:

I have your loved one. Give me money or I'll shoot her.

The call was made by a scammer running an extortion scam, according to state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

But for the multiple Syracuse-area residents who were targeted by the scammer this week, the threats sounded very real.

"These scammers are preying on New Yorkers' worst fears in a shameful attempt to turn a quick buck," Schneiderman said in a news release Friday.

The scammer made the calls from what appeared to be a Syracuse number, officials with the AG's office said. To make the threats more believable, the scammer named real city addresses, officials said.

The phone calls started with the scammer claiming the victim's wife, daughter, niece or mother had been involved in a car accident in Syracuse that left the scammer's nephew injured, officials said. In retribution, the scammer claimed to have kidnapped the victim's loved from the accident scene.

"The scammer then demands money from the consumer, claiming that the injured nephew does not have any insurance to pay related bills," officials said.

Claiming to be a drug dealer and a gang member, the scammer told at least one victim to drop off ransom money on Fayette Street, officials said.

No one gave the scammer money, officials said, and none of the victims' relatives were kidnapped.

The New York State Police are investigating the scam. Officials urged anyone with information to call 1-800-GIVETIP.

The AG's office provided tips to help residents avoid falling for the scam:

Do not give a stranger personal information over the phone

Never wire money to a stranger

Do not purchase gift cards or money cards for a stranger

Immediately report suspicious phone calls to police

"If the caller is a stranger, be alert," officials said. "Be aware that this type of extortion scam depends on fear."