VietNamNet Bridge – The Ha Noi Police have alerted citizens to fake kidnappings being used to extort money from family members.

The warning followed six such scams detected since early last month, police said.

The perpetrators were reported to have called family members of the so-called victims and let them hear imitations of their relatives' voices.

They then demanded money be transferred to their bank account or they made an appointment for a family member to hand over the money.

In one such case on Monday this week, police said a woman in Dong Da District received a call while she was at work to say that her husband was being held because he owed the caller VND200 million (US$9,500).

She was ordered to hand over VND50 million ($2,300) for her husband's release. However, the woman contacted her husband, who had not been kidnapped, and then she informed the police.

People were advised to call the Ha Noi Police hotline on 04.39.61.34 or 0977.55.66.66 if they receive similar calls.

Source: VNS