Malwani School Parents Targeted by Fraudsters: Kidnapping, Arrest Hoaxes Lead to Ransom Payment

Mumbai, Malwani: Parents of students from Mother Teressa High School and Junior College in Malwani have become victims of cyber fraud. Unknown callers impersonated crime branch officers and kidnappers, falsely claiming that their children were involved in crimes or had been kidnapped.

At least four families received such fraudulent calls in recent weeks. In one case, the scammers convinced a parent to pay ₹20,000 after hearing a voice pretending to be their child. Other parents rushed to the school, only to find their children safe.

One victim, auto driver Shafique Ansari, shared his distressing experience after receiving a WhatsApp call on December 5 about his son Zaid. Another parent, Kamrunnisa, was informed her daughter had been kidnapped but found her safe in school. Parents of other students reported similar incidents involving demands of up to ₹50,000.

The school has issued a warning to families, urging them to stay alert and report any such incidents to the police. To prevent panic, the institution has implemented a dedicated emergency contact number for parents.

School chairman and principal Dr. Riyaz A Khan described the incidents as organized cybercrime scams and called for vigilance. “We request parents to confirm the safety of their children with the school or police if they receive such calls,” he said.