Officials in Kerr County, Texas, say fraudsters are calling parents and other relatives of children still unaccounted for after last week’s catastrophic flooding, falsely claiming to have the youngsters and demanding cash for their release. Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice told a Monday press briefing that the county’s five hotlines for missing persons are now inundated with “hundreds” of bogus calls, complicating efforts to confirm how many people remain missing. Rice described the extortion attempts as “absolutely heartbreaking” and warned residents not to transfer money or share personal information with unknown callers. The wave of scams has prompted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to vow that anyone exploiting the disaster “will face the full force of the law.” The flooding, triggered when the Guadalupe River surged 26 feet in less than an hour on July 4, has killed at least 75 people, including 27 children, according to county figures. Ten campers and one counselor from the nearby Camp Mystic retreat are still missing. Authorities said the volume of fraudulent calls is hampering search-and-rescue operations by diverting personnel and resources needed to verify legitimate leads.