What is virtual kidnapping? 

Law enforcement has long been aware of virtual kidnapping fraud, but recent cases investigated by the FBI highlight an alarming shift. Formerly localized to Mexico and bordering states, this deceptive scam now poses a threat across the entire U.S.

Virtual kidnapping schemes, while diverse, all exploit tricks to coerce individuals into paying money to supposedly free a loved one in distress. Unlike actual kidnappings, no one is physically taken. Instead, perpetrators employ lies and threats, pressuring victims to make rapid payments to prevent the alleged danger.

Between 2013 and 2015, the FBI in Los Angeles monitored virtual kidnapping calls from Mexican prisons. Initially targeting Spanish speakers in Los Angeles and Houston, the calls transitioned to English in 2015, with criminals abandoning specific targets for a broader approach.

This shift increased the pool of potential victims. In Operation Hotel Tango, over 80 victims across California, Minnesota, Idaho, and Texas lost over $87,000. Perpetrators, often inmates with illicit cell phones, strategically selected affluent areas, like Beverly Hills, dialing numbers methodically to find victims.

Calls involved a recorded voice mimicking a distressed woman, creating panic by claiming to hold the victim's child hostage. The demand was urgent—a ransom payment via wire to Mexico, usually around $2,000. The scheme relied on the sheer volume of calls, succeeding when individuals had daughters and were away from home, explained Arbuthnot.

Perpetrators aimed to keep victims on the line to prevent verification or police contact. Ransom payments were typically wired to Mexico, though some victims in Houston were coerced into larger payments through monitored money drops. Yanette Rodriguez Acosta, part of the scheme, was arrested for wire fraud and money laundering in July 2017.

Arbuthnot noted that funds from virtual kidnappings enhance prisoners' lives in Mexico, aiding bribery and potential release. These cases are challenging to investigate due to the offshore nature of the crimes and victims' reluctance to report. Despite this, Arbuthnot emphasized the emotional toll on victims, as they genuinely believe a loved one is in peril during the orchestrated events.