The Guadalajara Reporter

Beware Mexico’s latest criminal craze: ‘virtual kidnappings’

In days gone by, criminals would need a weapon, rope or handcuffs, a getaway car and a safe house in order to carry out a kidnapping. Now all they need is a cell phone.

“Virtual kidnappings” have become increasingly common in Mexico in recent years, with con men tricking victims into thinking that a family member has been abducted.

The daughter of a high-ranking former state official was recently targeted in this manner, Spanish-language daily Mural reported this week.

Having threatened the girl over the phone, the criminals scared her into checking into a local hotel and then called her parents saying she had been kidnapped. Fortunately, the girl’s father was familiar with such scams. He soon saw through the ruse and managed to locate his daughter and bring her home with no ransom having been paid.

Please login or subscribe to view the complete article.