A KIDNAP gang targeted fresher students in Manchester city centre and forced them to withdraw cash and transfer thousands of pounds online, it emerged today.

Cops received reports of four victims being lured into an Audi A6 before being made to transfer up to £3,000 before they were released.

The kidnappers abducted members of the public, some of which were new students, in a story that will horrify parents whose kids have left home for uni this month.

Other victims were brought to petrol stations, forced to withdraw cash from the ATM and fill the car up, Mail Online reports.

Police in Manchester foiled the group’s latest kidnapping plot when they spotted an Audi A6 which matched the description.

They arrested four men aged 25, 23, 19 and 18 on suspicion of robbery on Lloyd Street North near Denmark Road, Sanctuary Students halls of residence.

Cops found a victim inside the car when they pulled the vehicle over on Friday night.

Police later carried out four raids on houses in South Manchester and found a “large quantity of ammunition”.

A 29-year-old man was then arrested on suspicion of possessing prohibited ammunition.

The kidnappings took place between September 19 and September 21.

Detective Constable Natalie McDonald of GMP's City of Manchester said: “Innocent members of the public, some of them students new to Manchester, have been victims of tricksters who then kidnapped them and forced them to hand over their money.

“Last night, thanks to some excellent work by the TVIU, four people were arrested, during what we believe was another robbery.”

She added: “When a person is a victim of such robbery, they can be left feeling scared to go out and can lose trust in everyone.

“This week we have many new students coming to live in Manchester, and it is disappointing that some of their first memories of our city is that they were victims of crime.”