Virtual Kidnapping: A New Twist on a Frightening Scam
This morning, we received a call from a frantic mother reporting her son had been kidnapped. The victim received a call while she was at work from a 701 area code phone number. The male stated her son owed them $15k and he had kidnapped him. During the phone conversation, our officer was able to make contact with her son and confirm he was safe. Another similar incident occurred yesterday in Cass County.
The FBI has provided the following tips regarding kidnapping schemes:
The success of any type of virtual kidnapping scheme depends on speed and fear. Criminals know they only have a short time to exact a ransom before the victims unravel the scam or authorities become involved. To avoid becoming a victim, look for these possible indicators:
▪️Callers go to great lengths to keep you on the phone, insisting you remain on the line.
▪️Calls do not come from the supposed victim’s phone.
▪️Callers try to prevent you from contacting the “kidnapped” victim.
▪️Calls include demands for ransom money to be paid via wire transfer to Mexico; ransom amount demands may drop quickly.
If you receive a phone call from someone demanding a ransom for an alleged kidnap victim, the following should be considered:
▪️In most cases, the best course of action is to hang up the phone.
▪️If you do engage the caller, don’t call out your loved one’s name.
▪️Try to slow the situation down. Request to speak to your family member directly. Ask, “How do I know my loved one is okay?”
▪️Ask questions only the alleged kidnap victim would know, such as the name of a pet. Avoid sharing information about yourself or your family.
▪️Listen carefully to the voice of the alleged victim if they speak.
▪️Attempt to contact the alleged victim via phone, text, or social media, and request that they call back from their cell phone.
▪️To buy time, repeat the caller’s request and tell them you are writing down the demand, or tell the caller you need time to get things moving.
▪️Don’t agree to pay a ransom, by wire or in person. Delivering money in person can be dangerous.
If you suspect a real kidnapping is taking place or you believe a ransom demand is a scheme, contact your nearest FBI office or local law enforcement immediately. Tips to the FBI can also be submitted online at tips.fbi.gov. All tipsters may remain anonymous.