A Long Island man pretended to be kidnapped in order to steal the ransom money from his mother, police said Saturday.
The 61-year-old mother received text messages on Friday that said her son was in trouble, Nassau County police said.
Then another man called and told her to wire money to Western Union in her son's name, police said. The man allegedly threatened to physically hurt her and her son if she didn't comply.
During the call, her son said he was kidnapped and begged her to send money, police said
The mother reported the call to police who found her son at his home and determined that he wasn't in danger or kidnapped.
Michael Sorbera, 31, was charged with grand larceny and conspiracy. It wasn't clear whether he had an attorney.
