Virtual kidnapping is a type of fraud in which scammers make phone calls to victims, claiming to have kidnapped a loved one and demanding money in exchange for their release.
These scams are often very convincing, as scammers use recordings of screams to add an element of panic and urgency to the call. Additionally, scammers often use publicly available information to profile and target potential victims, making the scam even more convincing.
They may also obtain personal information about their victims in order to make their scam more convincing, such as by profiling them online or connecting their cell phone number with that of a relative.
There are several steps that individuals can take to protect themselves from virtual kidnapping scams, including avoiding posting personal information online, being wary of providing financial information over the phone, and communicating with family members prior to travel. Additionally, it is important to be wary of any phone calls or messages, including those purporting to be from the police or your loved one’s employer, as they may be part of a scam.
Ultimately, it is important to stay calm, use good judgment, and seek help if necessary in order to avoid falling victim to virtual kidnapping scams.
Blessing Iyamadiken loves the art of storytelling and enjoys creating all types of content from news to entertainment. She is also a feminist and very passionate about Gender Equality. In her spare time, she loves to read or binge on Netflix.
