Police in Woodstock, Ont. say they have been told about a mysterious stranger who offered the mother of Victoria Stafford money to help get her daughter home safely, but that the situation "doesn't cause concern."

"We received the information, we looked into it and it doesn't cause us concern," Const. Laurie-Anne Maitland, spokesperson for the Oxford Community Police, told reporters Wednesday afternoon during a news conference.

Hours earlier, Victoria's mother Tara McDonald told reporters police have confirmed to her that an offer of money by a mysterious stranger is a legitimate case of a person trying to help.

Police would not confirm any details about the stranger on Wednesday, and would not go on record confirming statements that McDonald had attributed to police.

But McDonald claimed to reporters she gave police two sets of numbers that she received from a stranger who met her in Toronto last week for a chat about her eight-year-old daughter, who went missing three weeks ago.

"I called them yesterday and police confirmed it was a legitimate offer," she said at her daily press briefing.

The individual sent a limousine to pick up McDonald, her brother, boyfriend and best friend to bring them to the Sheraton Hotel by Pearson International Airport, Macdonald said yesterday.

McDonald refused to say if the person is a man or a woman.

The stranger said their child was kidnapped and murdered after police advised them not to pay the abductor a ransom. The stranger told McDonald that they didn't want that to happen to her and so they would put up any money that was requested of her to pay for her daughter's safe return.

Police, McDonald and Victoria's father Rodney Stafford have all said that they have not received a ransom request.

Victoria, known as "Tori" by family and friends, has been missing since April 8. The girl was last seen walking away from her school with a young woman with dark hair. Police have released a composite sketch of the woman but have not been able to identify her.

No suspects

The sketch sparked speculation in the Woodstock community that the woman in question looks similar to Victoria's mother.

When asked whether McDonald had been cleared as a suspect or as a person of interest in the case, Maitland was quick to say that police have never had a suspect in the case and have never named McDonald as a suspect or a person of interest.

On Wednesday, McDonald defended herself after some critics dismissed her story about the stranger as a far-fetched tale.

Rodney Stafford said the story about his daughter's disappearance makes him feel like he's in a movie.

"This is like something you only see in the movies but I just wish I could see the credits at the end. I just want this to be over," he said.

Search continues

Maitland said police are also doing all that they can, scouring Woodstock for signs of the little girl.

They are sifting through a local landfill, abandoned buildings and other properties in the area and will continue to so for the remainder of the week.

Maitland denied the investigation had come to a standstill and said a $50,000 police reward that was offered in exchange for information about the girl is an investigative tool that is often used in these type of circumstances.

"We're hoping it will be the catalyst that will bring her home," she said.

The police officer said she believes the young child is still alive and that while not everyone in the service agrees with her, there are some investigators who are still holding out hope.

McDonald said she has spoken to several psychics who have all sensed that her daughter is alive. She said she has called renowned psychic Sylvia Browne and has received a call back from her office.

The 30-year-old mother said she has found some comfort from speaking to people who share the belief that her daughter is alive.

"If people were in our shoes, they'd do anything too," she said.

She also had a message for whoever may have taken her daughter.

"I hope that they feel guilty for how miserable they've made us," she said. "If that was their goal it happened, if they wanted money, it's there. If it's to be hurtful and to cause us pain and suffering, they've done enough."