“A scam in which people are led to believe a relative has been taken hostage and will not be released unless a large ransom is paid is duping Americans and utterly terrifying them in the process.
Typically the victim will receive a frantic phone call claiming a loved one’s life is in danger. They are then told to wire money or leave it in a designated spot if they want to see them alive again.
The elaborate ruses are thought to be the work of Mexican cartels and often involve research on social media to discover a victim’s close relationships.”
Source: Kidnap Scam Sees Mexican Cartels Tricking Victims Into Believing Their Relatives Will Be Killed
