Few people expect to become the victim of a financially motivated kidnapping or extortion attempt. Nevertheless, many people live, work or travel in regions where such crimes occur and, in some areas, have even become a lucrative criminal enterprise. Understanding the risks allows you to take targeted precautions and respond more calmly and effectively should the worst happen.
Most kidnappings are not random acts. Criminals typically target individuals who are easy to identify, predictable in their routines and readily accessible. By following precautions, you can significantly reduce your personal risk. In this article, we share practical advice on how to reduce your personal risk and respond appropriately in the event of an incident, drawing on the experience of one of the world’s leading Kidnap & Ransom insurance providers. We look at four main types of threat:
- Classic kidnapping
- Express kidnapping
- Virtual kidnapping
- Extortion
| Term | Brief explanation |
| Classic Kidnapping | The victim is held captive while family members or an employer is pressured to pay a ransom. |
| Express Kidnapping | The victim is held captive and forced to withdraw cash or hand over valuables. |
| Virtual Kidnapping | Criminals fake a kidnapping to extort money. |
| Extortion | Threats are made to cause harm unless money is paid. |
Why some people are more likely to be targeted
The risk depends on three key factors. Financially motivated criminals are rarely driven by personal hostility. Instead, they look for people:
- who appear likely to command a worthwhile ransom (profile),
- whose regular daily routines make an abduction easier to plan (routine), and
- who are as accessible as possible (accessibility).
1. Profile
Your profile determines whether you stand out from the crowd, attract attention or are easily identifiable. The less you draw attention to yourself, the less likely you are to be selected as a target. Your profile is shaped by factors such as:
- The vehicle you drive
- Your clothing
- Jewellery
- Smartphones and other electronic devices
- Social media activity
- Conversations in public – and even in private settings
Today, just a small amount of publicly available information can enable criminals to build a surprisingly detailed profile of a potential target. The most important rule is therefore to avoid drawing unnecessary attention to yourself. What attracts attention depends very much on the local context, so adapt your appearance and behavior to local customs and circumstances whenever possible.
2. Routine
Predictable daily routines make you an easier target. They allow potential kidnappers to plan their actions more effectively. Particularly risky are travel and activity patterns that are regular and therefore easy to anticipate, for example:
- Your daily commute
- Regular visits to restaurants or the gym
- Consistently leaving or arriving at the same time
Even small changes can make a difference. Vary your routines whenever possible and avoid becoming too predictable.
3. Accessibility
Even if criminals have identified you as a potential target, they must still be able to reach you. You can make this considerably more difficult by taking practical precautions:
- If you are in an area with elevated security risks, spend as little time as possible in public places. Use a vehicle instead of walking whenever practical.
- Whenever possible, travel in a group. A lone individual is generally more vulnerable than several people together.
- Stay alert and take suspicious situations seriously. It is better to be cautious once too often than once too little.
- Avoid roadblocks and any situation where your vehicle could be boxed in or prevented from leaving.
- Ensure that your home or hotel has appropriate security measures in place, such as guarded entrances, alarm systems, CCTV, adequate lighting and secure parking facilities.
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What to do if the criminals are after all successful
Classic Kidnapping
In most cases, the primary motive behind a classic kidnapping is financial gain. If, despite all preventive measures, you are taken hostage, the following recommendations may help:
- Remain as calm as possible. Be cooperative, follow instructions, avoid direct eye contact and do not confront your captors.
- Prepare yourself for the possibility of being held for an extended period. Do not try to build a relationship with the kidnappers. Speak only when spoken to and answer questions truthfully.
- Tell the kidnappers who they should contact to negotiate the ransom demand.
- If you require medication, ask for it. Likewise, let them know if you need food, water or a blanket.
- Escape attempts are rarely worthwhile. Carefully weigh the risks before taking any action.
- If a rescue operation takes place, gunfire may occur. Take cover immediately and remain where you are until the operation has ended.
- If you are released, you will most likely be left in an unfamiliar location. Go to a nearby shop or petrol station, flag down a passing vehicle if necessary, and contact your family or trusted contacts as quickly as possible so that you can reach a place of safety.
Express Kidnapping
Express kidnappings typically last only a few hours. The offenders’ objective is to force you to hand over cash or valuables as quickly as possible. For example, they may compel you to withdraw money from an ATM or use your keys to gain access to your home or workplace.
- As with any kidnapping, remain as calm as possible and cooperate with the offenders. Give them what they are demanding.
- Attempting to escape will generally increase the risk. Avoid confrontation whenever possible.
Virtual Kidnapping
A virtual kidnapping is nearly always a scam. The criminals pretend that a family member, friend or colleague has been kidnapped. You may hear someone crying or pleading in the background and believe it is your son or daughter. Alternatively, the caller may claim that the alleged victim has committed a crime and is being held. In every case, the caller’s aim is to intimidate you into paying money immediately. Not every ransom demand means that someone has actually been kidnapped. If someone claims that a relative has been abducted but provides no concrete information, follow these steps:
- End the call, however difficult that may feel.
- If you do continue speaking to the caller, do not mention the name of the person you believe is being held and do not disclose any personal information. Ask to speak directly to the alleged victim and ask what has happened. If it is a virtual kidnapping, the caller will usually refuse or be unable to let you speak to that person.
- As soon as the call ends, immediately try to contact the person who is supposedly being held.
- Criminals often call repeatedly. Do not pay a ransom. In a genuine kidnapping, the kidnappers will find a way to contact you and will usually be able to provide enough specific information about the victim to convince you that the threat is real.
- In summary: if the caller provides few details, avoids using names and relies mainly on the sound of someone crying in the background, it is highly likely to be a scam rather than an actual kidnapping.
Extortion
In an extortion attempt, the perpetrators threaten to harm you or your family unless you pay a specified sum of money or, less commonly, provide them with some other form of benefit. General threats, often made via a landline and less frequently by mobile phone, without any specific information are usually not credible and should be ignored. If you receive such a call, it is most likely a matter of chance. The perpetrators are simply hoping to reach someone they can intimidate. In some cases, however, the message may be sufficiently specific that it should be taken seriously. If the threat appears genuine:
- Remain calm and do not react impulsively. If the threat is vague or based solely on information that is easily obtainable, ignore it and end the call.
- If the threat is specific, listen carefully without making any promises or commitments.
- If you believe the threat is credible, seek support immediately. It may be necessary to negotiate with the perpetrators. In some cases, you may need to leave the area for a period of time, in the hope that the threat will subside if you remain inaccessible for an extended period.
Conclusion
There is no such thing as absolute security.
However, you can significantly reduce your risk by:
- keeping a low profile,
- varying your routines,
- making yourself less accessible, and
- remaining alert at all times.
If the worst happens, the same principles always apply:
Stay calm. Cooperate. Do not take unnecessary risks.
If you are able to do so, contact the nearest Swiss representation or your security assistance provider (e.g. your Plan B or Kidnap & Ransom insurance provider) as soon as possible.
This post is based on sources from Elman Myers, Senior Consultant @Hiscox Crisis Management.