A Monroe woman says she picked up the phone Friday morning and a man told her he was holding a gun to her husband's head.

The caller told Andrea Greenberg that her husband had crashed into his brother's BMW and he was so angry he was going to shoot him unless he gave her money.

"Something in my head said this was not right, and I was terrified and shaking, and my life is passing before my eyes," Greenberg says.

Police say it was all a scam.

Greenberg says she had the presence of mind to hang up on the caller and contact both her husband, who was fine, and police. 

According to investigators, criminals may call and threaten to hurt a loved one unless you pay them.

About a half dozen similar scams have been reported in Monroe -- and police say at least one victimized family did actually send money.

"We've been advising people to try and calmly end the call, and reach out to your family member immediately to verify that they are OK," says Monroe Police Capt. Keith White. "After that, you should report it to the police."