Police want to alert the public about a cheating ruse employed to induce people to part with money by alleging their next-of-kin had been kidnapped. Members of public are advised to call the Police immediately if they are approached in a similar manner.

Phone calls were made on 24 August 07 to several different unrelated persons alleging that one of their respective family members had been kidnapped and would be harmed if money was not transferred to the callers. The allegations were untrue and no one had been kidnapped. Unfortunately, one person was cheated of nearly $50,000 before realising it was a ruse.

Members of public are advised that should they receive such calls, they are to remain calm and call the Police immediately.

Police investigations of these cases are on-going.