Goa Police warn people against ‘e-kidnappers’

PANAJI: Confirming that your child is safe should be the first step if a foreign caller claims to be a kidnapper, Goa police said recently.
“Do not panic if someone calls you from other countries with codes such as +92, saying that your child has been kidnapped,” SP Rahul Gupta said. “Check on your child. Then report to the local police station in case of any apprehensions.”
Police said that recently, the cyber police station has received a series of complaints from people about calls claiming their children have been kidnapped or are in cop custody.Money for release is subsequently demanded in this ‘cyber/virtual kidnapping’ scam, police said.
A scammer calls the target from a foreign country’s number, usually with the +92 prefix of Pakistan, Goa police said. Using VPN, the cybercrooks can generate other countries’ codes too.
“The scammer says that their child has been kidnapped or involved in an accident. Sometimes, the scammer says that cops have picked up the child,” police said. “Money is demanded for the child’s safety or release, with the scammer often compelling the shaken parents to act quickly without verifying the information.”
Police said that the scammer may use specific details or background noises to make the threat seem credible.
It is crucial that parents remain calm, police said. “Try to contact the child directly through their known phone number or via other family membersand avoid sending any money or complying as per scammer’s demands.”
Parents have been urged by police to raise awareness to avoid such cyber traps.
The public should block suspicious numbers, especially those with high-risk country codes, police said.
“By staying vigilant and informed, parents can better protect themselves and their children,” police said.