Our Fake Kidnapping

November 3rd, 2009 Posted in culture, day to day

Written by Shanie

When it happened to us a local friend joked that we had finally become “real” Argentines. At the time it wasn’t funny at all. But now looking back, I must say it gives me a little chuckle.

What had made us pass the final test of becoming a true member of this crazy culture? I would of never guessed if someone had asked me… it was the brush off of a virtual kidnapping.

What in the world is a virtual kidnapping? I mean seriously, you’re either kidnapped or your not, right? Well, not for some here in Argentina. Including Jamie.

Our virtual kidnappers had followed the rules of the game. It began with a call the day prior from a man that said he was a police officer. He expressed in a kind, caring voice that a family member had been in a car accident. Well, Jamie is my only family member living in Argentina so we thought that the call had been for the previous owners of our house, and whom we had adopted the phone line from. After hanging up, we didn’t think anymore about it.

The following day a man called a few minutes after Jamie left to do a few errands downtown. Now this is literally two minutes or so, so when the man continued to tell me that my husband had been “sequestrado” I was in a state of confusion.

If this man was telling me the truth, the kidnappers would have had to been waiting outside of our house. I had watched Jamie get into our car and leave. My logical mind kept saying that if an Argentine was really going to be kidnapping my husband, they would of had to at least drink a few mates and talk about the game plan before execution.

The supposed kidnapper continued on his verbal rampage that a gun was at my husband’s head and that I needed give them US$90,000. While trying to continue my so-called “blond moment”, I used the excess time in an attempt to get Jamie on the line using my Skype phone. I wasn’t having much luck with getting through, but I was having a lot of luck at frustrating the fake abductor with my lack of believing his story.

He passed the phone to various people, hoping that their terror tactics would have some lasting impressions on me so that I would give up information.

Finally, with my acts of ignorance foiling their plot they hung up. As soon as they did, I, by-chance, made contact with Jamie. My brovado crashed around me and I cried into the phone, telling Jamie to come directly home. No talking to strangers. No getting milk at the store. No collecting $200 when passing go. Just come home.

Well, I wish I knew then what I know now. The virtual kidnapping is nothing but a hoax that has been created by imprisoned thieves. Started in the early 2000s in a reaction to a wave of kidnappings, con-artists played upon people’s fears and used the cell phone society to their advantage.

Here are some tidbits to know so you won’t be fooled.

First, They are usually calling collect direct from the prisons, though not always. Our caller was. I was initially asked if I wanted to accept the call or not…so obviously here I would of hung up if I had known.

Second, there is always an initial call — for us, it was from the “police officer” calling about the car crash in town. The phony accident is a means of getting information that they will use on you later. For example, they asked me my husband’s name, occupation and age. I didn’t even really realize that I had given that information out until speaking about the incident later.

Third, once they have “kidnapped” your loved one they tend to ask for banking information, your address, money, and — get this — more phone cards. These phone cards that they are asking for in exchange for your the person you care about (here is an example of a place that I now chuckle) are so that they can continue to make the initial contact with other unsuspecting telephone users.

According to the United States Embassy and the Argentine government, these virtual kidnappings are nothing more than a nuisance. At least if you know about it before hand, that is. Their recommendation…ignore them. Hang up and don’t give your information out to anyone that isn’t verified.

So, to all those with access to an Argentine phone…be wary…be oh so wary…there is a virtual kidnapper on the loose.

  1. One Response to “Our Fake Kidnapping”

  2. By wheels bmw 2002 330ci 7jx17 on Jan 5, 2012

    Asa always, love the shows. I hope to regale someone with your book as I travel to and from work.

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