Fraudsters Posing as Police Officers Target Parents with False Kidnapping Claims to Extract Ransom**Hyderabad:** A new cybercrime tactic is targeting parents across the Telugu states, where fraudsters pose as police officers and falsely claim that their children, especially daughters, have been kidnapped. These scammers make WhatsApp calls from foreign numbers, threatening to kill the alleged victim unless a ransom is paid immediately.In a recent incident in Raidurgam, a family received a terrifying call from a scammer posing as a police officer. The fraudster claimed that their daughter, who was on her way to college, had been kidnapped. To further pressure the parents, they sent a fake voice message, supposedly of their daughter crying, to convince them of the urgency and reality of the situation.The parents were on the verge of transferring the ransom but wisely contacted their relatives, who confirmed that the daughter was safe on campus. They immediately reported the scam to the local police, narrowly avoiding a financial loss.These types of frauds are on the rise, and police authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant. The police have advised parents and guardians not to panic if they receive similar calls, avoid responding to foreign numbers on WhatsApp, and to report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station.**Key Tips to Stay Safe:**- Do not respond to suspicious WhatsApp calls, especially from foreign numbers.- Remain calm and verify the safety of your loved ones before taking any action.- Immediately report such incidents to the police.Stay alert, stay safe!