Parents' 'virtual kidnap' ordeal

A teenager has been arrested after anonymously blackmailing a friend’s mum, saying he would kill her son unless she wired him €10,000, revealed Denia National Police.

The accused, aged 16, reportedly rang the victim when he knew his local football team colleague was out. According to the mother, her phone rang at about 06.00 one morning, and the male caller pretended to be her son, slurring his words as though he was drunk or had been drugged. Next, a different male voice, in threatening tones, announced he had her boy in the boot of his car and would kill him unless she sent him the five-figure sum via Bizum. Seconds later, the caller reduced the demand to €5,000. At the same time, noises in the background which sounded like gunshots terrified the mother, who was instructed to call her son and wait for her phone to ring again. The parents rang their child, who confirmed he was perfectly fine and was exactly where he had told them he would be – at a house party with a group of friends. But the adults were so spooked by the threats that they went to collect him. Whilst they were en route, the son got a call from a withheld number, where a stranger told him his parents were on their way to get him but that he was going to be murdered before they arrived. Another call, also from a concealed number, was made to the boy's mum, relaying the same message. Yet, when they reached the house, they found their son safe and sound. Police used a court warrant to uncover the withheld phone number and trace its owner, who turned out to be another football club mother, and her 16-year-old son was identified. When arrested, the youth insisted it was ‘just a practical joke’. A second boy was allegedly involved, providing his voice for the initial call. Both suspects, who are Spanish, were released on bail, and the case was handed to the youth prosecution service. Police say this type of extortion is known as a 'virtual express kidnapping', where a stranger claims to have a family member held hostage and demands an immediate ransom. The caller usually keeps the person on the line for as long as possible and gives instructions for payment, aiming to prevent their checking with their relative and to get the cash off them before they have time to reflect rationally.