Kolkata: In an instance of opportunistic extortion, a 44-year-old resident of Ironside Road in Karaya was swindled out of Rs 90,000 by cybercriminals who posed as kidnappers while his teenage daughter was missing. Investigators now believe the crime was fuelled by an information leak, suggesting a high probability of insider involvement in tipping off the fraudsters.The ordeal began on April 6, when the man’s 16-year-old daughter left their residence without notice. While the frantic family launched a search and registered a formal complaint, digital predators were already circling. Within 24 hours of the police report, the father received a series of calls from both domestic and international numbers. The callers claimed to have the teen in their custody, demanding immediate payment for her safe return. Terrified for the girl’s life, the father transferred Rs 90,000 in multiple instalments. However, the facade crumbled on April 11, when the girl returned home on her own, unharmed and unaware of the ransom demands. The extortionists, unaware of her return, continued to call and demand more money, confirming that they never held her captive. “This was a targeted strike. The suspects knew exactly when the girl went missing, and possessed the father’s contact details,” an officer said. Detectives are now convinced that the data regarding the missing person’s report was leaked to the fraudsters. “We are certain an insider — potentially someone with access to preliminary police records or a person close to the family — provided the lead to the scammers,” the officer added. Investigators are looking into the circumstances of the girl’s disappearance. Police said the role of the 16-year-old is under scanner to determine if her bsence was leveraged by external acquaintances to facilitate the scam. Cops registered a fresh case of cheating and criminal conspiracy.
