While real kidnappings are rare in the US, virtual kidnapping scams, where criminals attempt to extort money from victims by convincing them that a loved one’s been abducted, are on the rise. Follow these steps to raise your family’s awareness. Discuss virtual kidnapping with loved ones, now & before traveling. Some families create a code word that only they would know. Avoid posting phone numbers, real-time locations, travel plans, or any recordings of your voice online. Say nothing, or as little as possible, to spam callers so they can’t record a sample of your voice. Agree to share your cell phone location with loved ones using Google Maps, iCloud or another legitimate tracking service. If possible, make a mental or written note of what loved ones are wearing when they leave the house & where they’re going. If you suspect you’ve been contacted by someone running this scam & you hear what sounds like a loved one in distress in the background, stay calm, as they use fear & deception to destabilize victims & convince them that the threat is real. Ask to speak to your loved one, and if denied, have the caller describe what the person’s wearing. Try texting the alleged kidnap victim to confirm they’re safe. If possible, contact law enforcement from another phone, while muting the scammer from hearing you, and place your phone on speaker so police can hear the call. Hopefully, a scam like this never happens to you, but if it does, now you’ll be more prepared than scared.
