Hoaxsters strike in Haymarket
Criminal hoaxsters are targeting members of Sydney’s Chinese community in an attempt to extort money with false kidnapping claims.
Victims receive phone calls demanding money to secure the release of a family member, who the callers claim to have abducted.
A number of similar attempts have occurred recently around Haymarket and at least one was successful, with a 57-year-old man paying money through a transfer service to secure the release of his daughter.
The caller demanded he stay on the phone, which police said was a common attempt to stop victims from trying to contact their loved ones. The man later discovered his daughter was safe.
Police from City Central Local Area Command are investigating the incident and are urging the Chinese community to be vigilant.
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore and Independent Councillor Robert Kok declined to comment on the reasons that the hoaxsters have targeted the Chinese community.
The Australian Chinese Community Association also chose not to provide comment.
Police have issued the following recommendation:
If you receive a threatening phone call demanding money, where your child is supposedly on the phone:
• Do not disclose any personal details to the caller and do not stay on the phone unless you have alternate phones to use in contacting your children.
• Take immediate steps to contact your children by other means.
• Do not make any payments to the caller, either via phone, internet or cash.
• Do not reveal any account details, i.e. PIN numbers, or account names or numbers.
• Contact police immediately on ‘000’ to report the incident.
by Aaron Cook
