2010-04-08 16:27

SYDNEY - Extortionists are making phone calls to Chinese people in Sydney telling them their child has been kidnapped and demand a ransom for their release, according to a report by Australian Associated Press on Thursday.

Asian Crime Squad Commander Scott Cook revealed that families, individuals and businesses are being called by Mandarin-speaking people with an accent indicating they are from Fujian province in China.

The extortionists call a publicly listed number, telling the victim their child has been kidnapped and demanding 50,000 Australian dollars ($46,290) at first, but then negotiating down as low as 2,000 Australian dollars ($1,851).

They demand payment of the money into an offshore account in Hong Kong or Taiwan.

Cook said police had not received reports of anyone being harmed but are treating the matter seriously and urge people to report any incidents.

"It is entirely telephone and internet-based," he said.

"It's opportunistic and it's random."

"The extortionist might say, 'I have your kids,' when in some cases the kids are sitting next to them - or some people who have received the threats do not have children."

There have been 64 such threatening phone calls since October last year to people in New South Wales, mainly in the Hurstville, Burwood and central Sydney areas.