Texas Border Business
SAN ANTONIO, TX—McAllen, Texas — As the holidays approach and citizens are traveling abroad, the FBI is reminding citizens to report suspected kidnappings for ransom as soon as possible.
The FBI’s jurisdiction in crimes against Americans abroad dates back more than three decades to the mid-1980s, when Congress passed laws authorizing the Bureau to investigate hostage-taking and kidnappings of Americans overseas.
When someone in the U.S. gets a ransom call from overseas and reaches out to law enforcement for help, the nearest FBI field office can send a team of trained personnel to assist. The FBI works closely with foreign partners and other U.S. agencies with a global footprint. The FBI has 96 Legal Attaché offices and sub-offices—managed by the Bureau’s International Operations Division—providing coverage for more than 180 countries, territories, and islands. The Legal Attaché coordinates the FBI’s overseas coordination with the host country’s law enforcement.
“Our goal is to bring your family member home safely,” said Acting Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson with the FBI San Antonio Division. “If you get a phone call from someone demanding a ransom for your family member, we want you to know that we will do everything we can to help reunite you with your loved one.”
Kidnapping for ransom can take place through various means:
- Virtual Kidnappings for ransom are telephonic or digital coercion schemes, aimed at extorting quick ransom payments from victims through threats of harm or violence by manipulating victims to believe they themselves, their close associate, or family member have been kidnapped and are in imminent danger. Scammers demand victims pay ransoms for safe release, though no physical kidnapping has actually taken place. The criminals want to receive the ransom before the scheme can be discovered.
- Kidnapping for ransom can also be received via an in-person threat, a phoned threat, or an electronic message indicating a loved one has been kidnapped.
If a loved one is believed to be missing while traveling in a foreign country, please file a report with American Citizen Services (ACS) at the closest U.S. Consulate or Embassy.
If you suspect a kidnapping has taken place, or if you believe the ransom demand is a scheme, contact your local FBI office or call 1-800-CALL-FBI.
