A 21-year-old lady, who’s a Chinese nationwide, contacted police on 16 August after receiving data through WeChat {that a} good friend was allegedly being held hostage.
The 19-year-old man, who can also be a Chinese nationwide, informed the lady he was being held hostage in a CBD residence by various armed males.
The males additionally allegedly demanded $200,000 from {the teenager}.
Police went to the residence at about 1.20am on August 17 and located the 19-year-old with out incident.
Warrants have been subsequently executed at properties within the Melbourne CBD and Docklands, and three males have been arrested.
All three are Chinese nationals.
The trio have been interviewed by police and a 23-year-old man and a 22-year-old man, have been subsequently charged with false imprisonment, tried armed theft, frequent legislation assault, illegal assault, extortion and blackmail.
They confronted Melbourne Magistrate’s Court on 18 August 18 and have been bailed to seem once more on November 9.
A 21-year-old man was launched pending additional enquiries.
Yesterday, detectives arrested three extra males in relation to the incident.
A 23-year-old man, a 25-year-old man and a 27-year-old man, all Chinese nationals, have been arrested in Docklands and subsequently interviewed.
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The three have been launched pending additional enquiries and the investigation stays ongoing.
These scams typically contain faux data being offered to victims in an effort to extort cash from them, police say.
Victims are allegedly threatened by folks falsely claiming to be Chinese authorities officers or police, and asking for big sums of cash to be transferred in an effort to stop the sufferer being charged or deported.
Source: www.9news.com.au
