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Ransom Scheme Foiled After South Coast Officials Involve SWAT, French Embassy

Officials say a woman traveling in France from Montecito received a call about a demand for ransom Saturday.

The call said her husband and two children were being held hostage.

Her husband, who was not traveling, received a similar call about his wife being held in France.

En route to the bank to wire money, he contacted law enforcement.

That launched an extensive response, which included the SWAT team from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department and help from the French embassy.

Eventually, all family members were accounted for, but it remains unclear who made the ransom calls.

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