THE number of kidnap phone scams is on the rise, with 28 cases
reported last month alone.
Of the cases reported in April, one was successful in fooling
their victim.
The 51-year-old woman, was tricked by a caller informing her
that her son had been kidnapped and beaten up. A $3,000 ransom was
demanded from her, which she then handed over to the scammer.
Police said offenders' modus operandi is usually the same.
Callers tell the victims that a child or other family member has
been kidnapped and a ransom must be paid before they are
released.
The callers may then arrange for the victim to personally hand
over or leave the money at a designated location, such as in a park
or near an MRT station.