What is cyber kidnapping? Hyderabad Police caution parents against ‘fake’ calls

Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar has issued an advisory, urging people to be cautious against virtual kidnapping scams where fraudsters impersonate police officers and play distress audio of children to demand ransom.

 

“If they mention your children's names and play the sound of them crying, do not panic or get mentally disturbed. Anxiety, fear.. these two are turning into boons for cybercriminals,” the officer said in a post on X.

 

He said vigilance, along with awareness, is essential to put a check on these crimes.

 

“Under no circumstances should you share personal details of your children or relatives on social media. If you receive such threatening calls, immediately inform the local police. Call the helpline number 1930 or file a complaint on the National Cyber Crime Portal cybercrime.gov.in,” he added.

 

The officer also posted a telephonic conversation between a fraudster posing as a police officer and the father of a child.

 

What is virtual kidnapping?

 

Virtual kidnapping or cyber kidnapping is a form of cybercrime where scammers use threats and manipulation to trick victims into paying a ransom to save their loved ones, especially children, who they believe are in danger.

 

They use advanced technology like AI to imitate the voice of the child, making their demands more convincing and frightening. The scammers usually find information about the victims by searching through social media, the internet, or the dark web.

 

Last year, the Goa Police had claimed they had received a series of complaints from people about calls claiming their children had been kidnapped or were in police custody. 

 

“Do not panic if someone calls you from another country with codes such as +92, saying that your child has been kidnapped. Check on your child. Then report to the local police station in case of any apprehensions," SP Rahul Gupta had said. 

India