“For criminals, the success of any type of virtual kidnapping depends on speed and fear. They know they only have a short time to exact a ransom payment before the victims and their families unravel the scam or authorities become involved,” according to the FBI
“There are several possible indicators you can look for to avoid becoming a victim.”
(Nov. 4, 2014)
FBI STORY: Jose Ramirez, a retired New York police officer and ultra-fit triathlete, is an unlikely victim. But last December in Cancun, Mexico, after completing an Ironman competition, he was tricked into believing his life was in danger. Like an increasing number of U.S. citizens on both sides of the border, Ramirez was the target of an extortion scheme known as virtual kidnapping.
Unlike traditional abductions, virtual kidnappers do not intend to physically detain their victims. Instead, through various deceptions and threats of violence, they coerce individuals to isolate themselves from their families—or make families believe that their loved ones are being held—all to extract a quick ransom before the scheme falls apart.
“Victims of virtual kidnappings are scared for their lives, and so are their families,” said Special Agent Brian Wittenberg, a member of our International Violent Crimes Unit at FBI Headquarters who has worked many of these cases.