Mangaluru: Parents targeted by fake extortion calls; Police urge caution

Team Udayavani, Jun 12, 2024, 6:50 PM IST

Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal, in a press note on June 12, said that several parents of students in various schools in the city have received alarming extortion calls over the past two days, sparking widespread concern.

The press note said that calls, identified as originating from foreign numbers in countries like Poland and Pakistan, were made through WhatsApp and occurred during school hours.

In these calls, the caller, posing as a police officer and speaking in Hindi, falsely claimed to have arrested the recipients’ children, demanding money for their release. Upon verification, it was confirmed that all students were safe and present at their respective schools, the commissioner added.

Authorities have promptly registered a case, and a dedicated team from the Cybercrime Police Station in Mangalore is leading the investigation. The police have classified these calls as fake and part of a malicious attempt to extort money from unsuspecting parents.

In light of these incidents, the police have issued a set of precautionary measures for parents and educational institutions. Parents are advised not to panic and to avoid answering WhatsApp calls from unknown foreign numbers. Should they receive such calls, they are urged to contact the nearest police station immediately.

Schools and other educational institutions are requested to disseminate this advisory widely to ensure the safety and awareness of all concerned parties.