THE number of kidnap phone scams is on the rise, with 28 cases reported last month alone.
Of the cases reported in April, one was successful in fooling their victim.
The 51-year-old woman, was tricked by a caller informing her that her son had been kidnapped and beaten up. A $3,000 ransom was demanded from her, which she then handed over to the scammer.
Police said offenders' modus operandi is usually the same. Callers tell the victims that a child or other family member has been kidnapped and a ransom must be paid before they are released.
The callers may then arrange for the victim to personally hand over or leave the money at a designated location, such as in a park or near an MRT station.