Overview
- On July 21, the Unidad de Policía Cibernética de la CDMX and the Secretaría de Seguridad Ciudadana issued a joint public alert warning of a surge in cross-call extortion schemes known as virtual kidnapping.
- Per the advisory, extortionists impersonate officials or company employees to trick victims into leaving their homes and then demand ransom from isolated family members.
- Authorities pinpointed risk factors such as public sharing of personal details on social media, absence of family emergency protocols, and responding to unknown numbers.
- Preventive recommendations include establishing family passwords for verification, restricting personal data online, refusing to share sensitive information by phone and cutting off calls under intimidation.
- Citizens are urged to verify emergencies directly with authorities and report suspicious calls via 911 or the Mi Policía app to support law enforcement efforts.