Virtual Kidnapping On The Rise In California's Wealthiest Cities

The phone rings. An unsuspecting person picks up the line, hearing a woman scream on the other end. "Help!"

It's instinct to say the first name that comes to mind. By then, the hook is set, and the virtual kidnapping con commences.

"Instinctively, the victim may blurt out his or her child's name," FBI Los Angeles Special Agent Erik Arbuthnot discussed.

According to Arbuthnot, the victim would blurt out their child's name, saying something like 'Mary! are you okay?' and then an interrupting voice says, 'We have Mary. She's in a truck and we're holding her hostage. You need to pay a ransom and do it now or we are going to cut off her fingers.' This fraud only worked when people met all the criteria, having a daughter, having them away from home. After hundreds of calls, it eventually works.

The Virtual Kidnapping phone scam that has been around for decades, the FBI has said. The act of a "trick being played" to con a victim into paying a ransom fee for a loved one they "believe is being threatened with violence or death," the FBI explains.

This "extortion scheme" has become prevalent in Orange County's wealthiest communities, as well as prominent zip codes around the state, the FBI has reported.

The criminals target cities, cold-calling hundreds of numbers until someone falls for their scheme, according to the FBI's description. Losses to the victims of this crime have reached hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Orange County has become a target for Virtual Kidnapping, the FBI has said. An affluent community, many phone numbers with OC area codes are targeted for this purpose. Victims of such a scam are traumatized by the events, the perceived danger to loved ones is almost as palpable as the real danger would have been.

Don’t Become a Victim

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.

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