Police warn of 'virtual kidnapping' scam

With social media, scammers know about you far more than you think. Yonhap

By Jung Min-ho

Police are warning against “virtual kidnappers,” who swindle money out of parents by calling them and pretending to have kidnapped their children.

The scam is decades-old but has become far more sophisticated thanks to social media, where scammers can gather up-to-date information about their targets.

The scam begins with a phone call, which usually involves the (fake) voice of the parents' son or daughter. The “kidnapper,” who has detailed information about their loved one, threatens them and demands money. The parents panic and send the money.

On Friday, a woman, 48, identified only as A, received a phone call from her “daughter,” who told her that she had been kidnapped in Peru and one of her friends had already been killed.

According to the Namyangju Police Station Tuesday, the scammer knew that the daughter, 26, was traveling in the country with three others. He also knew their sensitive information, including their itinerary. The man told the mother to send him 10 million won ($9,000) if she wanted to see her daughter again.

The mother tried to reach her daughter via mobile phone and messenger but could not. At that time, her daughter was on a plane bound for Finland ― and the scammer knew it.

The mother called police, who later found out that everything was a fraud. Her daughter was fine and responded three hours after the phishing call.

Police said it was likely that the scammer collected information about A's daughter through her social media, in which some of her personal data such as her name and contact information were available. Police said the scammer called from a Middle Eastern country.

A man, 65, surnamed Jung, said he also received a call from a stranger several years ago. The unknown man claimed to have kidnapped his son, 20, and made a noise as if he was beating the son. The “son” was screaming for help.

“It was suspicious, but I could not confirm his safety immediately because he was serving his military duty at that time. I think the scammer knew it,” Jung told The Korea Times.

Police say the success of a virtual kidnapping scheme depends on speed and the victim's fear. Criminals know they have only a short time to exact a ransom before the victims realize it is a scam.

“It is important to keep sensitive personal information such as itinerary to yourself,” a police officer said.

“Ideally, it is better not to reveal your name and contact information on social media to avoid becoming an easy target.”