Virtual Kidnappers Arrested in San Diego

San Diego, California – police took four individuals into custody for being part of a scam involving what are being termed “virtual” kidnappings. However, it is more accurate to describe them as “faux” kidnappings. The perps would dial at random immigrants and inform them their love ones had been abducted and harm would come to them unless a ransoms were deposited at designated money drop sites.

In every case, no one had been kidnapped. Unsuspecting family would nonetheless make the cash payments which the crooks would then take back to Mexico. Police believe the scam has been ongoing since 2007. It should be noted that few people actually believed the crooks, but it was enough to net them half a million dollars over a six year period which is an average of over $80,000 a year or roughly $7,000 a month of tax free income.

In fact, the operation was an elaborate telemarketing scam complete with scripts that callers would use from their Tijuana-based phone bank. The phone bank itself had 30 phones and made as many as 5,000 ransom solicitations a day. It is not known if the four arrested in San Diego were ring leaders or cash mules.

Online:
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/11/08/apnewsbreak-4-charged-in-virtual-kidnappings-targeting-random-immigrant/