Everything You Need to Know About Virtual Kidnapping Schemes
By Timothy Tibbetts |
You've probably heard about the virtual kidnapping schemes and wondered how they work and what you can do to avoid them. Here's everything we know.
What Is Virtual Kidnapping?
Virtual kidnapping is a means to extort a ransom without anyone being kidnapped. The goal here is to get the victim to pay and pay fast before they can discover their loved ones haven't been kidnapped. It might surprise you to know that virtual kidnappings have been going on for decades. But, like everything else with technology, most people now have a cell phone with them and don't often miss calls.
Who's Behind The Scam?
As of just a few years ago, virtual kidnapping mostly came out of Mexican prisons and targeted people in Los Angeles and Houston who spoke Spanish. In 2015, English speaking users began being the target, which is why this seems like a relatively new scam to most. Prisoners bribe jail guards for cell phones and then randomly target phone numbers, often in affluent areas. The FBI believes that they use recordings to make it sound like they physically have the person.
How Does It Work?
You're probably wondering who falls for this? This scam requires that they reach someone who can't contact the person they claim to have kidnapped. If all the stars align correctly, they call someone who is scared when they hear the recording and also can't reach the person they claim to have kidnapped. They may need to call hundreds of people to get one person to fall for it, but remember, prisoners have nothing but time on their hands. The scam relies on speed so they are often in a hurry and they intend to keep you on the phone so you can't find out your loved one is OK or at least get the money before you do.
How Do They Get The Money?
Getting the money is interesting and can also be a telltale sign. Often, the ransom demand is under $2,000 because that's the maximum allowable amount that can be legally wire transferred to Mexico. However, the FBI is aware of cases where more substantial amounts are demanded, and a real person will pick up the money from somewhere like a trash can, take their cut, then wire the rest in small amounts to a Mexican prison. So far, that arrest, in July of 2017, was the first arrest in a virtual kidnapping case.
What's The Purpose?
Once the money is in the hands of a prisoner, they can use it to make life easier behind bars and even buy their way out of jail entirely.
What Can You Do?
The FBI has admitted these cases are nearly impossible to track because most of the perpetrators are in Mexico and the wired money is difficult to trace. They do, however, have some general advice.
Indicators:
1: The call didn't come from the alleged victim's phone
2: Callers try to keep you on the phone
3: Callers try to prevent you from contacting the "kidnapped" victim
4: Ransom amounts drop quickly, and you're asked to wire the money to Mexico
Things to consider:
1: In most cases, as difficult as it sounds, you're advised to hang up.
2: Don't call out your loved one's name
3: Ask to speak to your loved one and ask questions they would know the answer to
4: Listen carefully to the alleged victim's voice
5: Try and contact the victim through text, social media, or any way you can
6: Try to buy time
7: Don't deliver money in person
What Is Virtual Kidnapping?
Virtual kidnapping is a means to extort a ransom without anyone being kidnapped. The goal here is to get the victim to pay and pay fast before they can discover their loved ones haven't been kidnapped. It might surprise you to know that virtual kidnappings have been going on for decades. But, like everything else with technology, most people now have a cell phone with them and don't often miss calls.
Who's Behind The Scam?
As of just a few years ago, virtual kidnapping mostly came out of Mexican prisons and targeted people in Los Angeles and Houston who spoke Spanish. In 2015, English speaking users began being the target, which is why this seems like a relatively new scam to most. Prisoners bribe jail guards for cell phones and then randomly target phone numbers, often in affluent areas. The FBI believes that they use recordings to make it sound like they physically have the person.
How Does It Work?
You're probably wondering who falls for this? This scam requires that they reach someone who can't contact the person they claim to have kidnapped. If all the stars align correctly, they call someone who is scared when they hear the recording and also can't reach the person they claim to have kidnapped. They may need to call hundreds of people to get one person to fall for it, but remember, prisoners have nothing but time on their hands. The scam relies on speed so they are often in a hurry and they intend to keep you on the phone so you can't find out your loved one is OK or at least get the money before you do.
How Do They Get The Money?
Getting the money is interesting and can also be a telltale sign. Often, the ransom demand is under $2,000 because that's the maximum allowable amount that can be legally wire transferred to Mexico. However, the FBI is aware of cases where more substantial amounts are demanded, and a real person will pick up the money from somewhere like a trash can, take their cut, then wire the rest in small amounts to a Mexican prison. So far, that arrest, in July of 2017, was the first arrest in a virtual kidnapping case.
What's The Purpose?
Once the money is in the hands of a prisoner, they can use it to make life easier behind bars and even buy their way out of jail entirely.
What Can You Do?
The FBI has admitted these cases are nearly impossible to track because most of the perpetrators are in Mexico and the wired money is difficult to trace. They do, however, have some general advice.
Indicators:
1: The call didn't come from the alleged victim's phone
2: Callers try to keep you on the phone
3: Callers try to prevent you from contacting the "kidnapped" victim
4: Ransom amounts drop quickly, and you're asked to wire the money to Mexico
Things to consider:
1: In most cases, as difficult as it sounds, you're advised to hang up.
2: Don't call out your loved one's name
3: Ask to speak to your loved one and ask questions they would know the answer to
4: Listen carefully to the alleged victim's voice
5: Try and contact the victim through text, social media, or any way you can
6: Try to buy time
7: Don't deliver money in person
