Claims such as “your family member has been kidnapped”, “transfer money now”, and “tell no one” are designed to make you skip verification in panic. NZ Police identifies fake kidnapping as a scam topic relevant to Chinese communities. However convincing the crying, threats, or caller ID may sound, first focus on confirming whether your family member is safe.
The order to follow after the call
- Pause; do not pay: do not agree to payment, disclose online-banking details, or give a verification code during the call.
- Use a known channel to reach your family member: call a saved number, start a video call, or use school or workplace contact details. Do not rely only on a new number supplied by the caller.
- Get help according to the risk: call 111 if you believe someone is in immediate danger. For a suspected scam or non-emergency report, call 105.
Make it harder for a scammer to isolate you
Do not follow an instruction to keep the call secret. Tell another family member or trusted friend immediately. Ask them to help contact the person and record the caller number, time, payment demand, and screenshots. A second person checking often exposes the pressure tactic quickly.
A real emergency calls for protecting safety first; payment can wait until you have verified through an independent channel.
How the pressure is created
Police have warned that fake-kidnapping scams can begin with automated messages or calls impersonating bodies such as consulates, seeking personal information. Families overseas may then be told that a relative has been detained, harmed, or must not contact anyone, creating pressure for an urgent payment. A distressed voice, an unfamiliar location, or a claimed case number is frightening, but is not proof by itself.
First check that the person is safe
Do not use a number or chat supplied in the scam contact. End the call and use a saved phone number, video call, or publicly listed school or workplace contact; ask another relative to check through a different channel. If contact is temporarily unavailable, do not pay because of that alone. Write down the times, numbers, and claims, then check each point independently.
If money or information has been given
Contact your bank promptly, explain that you may have encountered a scam, and ask what protective steps are available. Keep call records, screenshots, recipient details, and payment evidence. Report to Police on 105 when there is no immediate danger; call 111 if someone faces an immediate threat to life or property. A clear account of what happened is more useful than trying to prove you were not deceived.
Prepare as a family
Agree two private verification questions with relatives studying, working, or living overseas, and keep a separate contact for a school, employer, or flatmate. In a real emergency, this preparation helps a family confirm safety before a stranger's call drives a decision.