State security agents in Tecate foiled a virtual kidnapping scam on March 26 after a father reported receiving extortion calls demanding money for the release of his 15-year-old daughter. The girl was never abducted. Officers found her unharmed in Valle de las Palmas, a rural community about 30 miles west of Tecate along Highway 2.
Scammers Called Father and Daughter at the Same Time
The criminals placed simultaneous calls to both the father and the teenager. They told the father they were holding his daughter and demanded a cash deposit in exchange for her safe return. At the same time, a second caller told the girl to hide and stop answering her phone, warning that her parents would be harmed if she disobeyed.
The dual-call tactic is a hallmark of virtual kidnapping, a psychological extortion scheme in which no one is physically taken. Scammers rely on panic and the inability of family members to reach one another to pressure quick payment. The extortion call originated from phone number 473-139-4262, a Guanajuato state area code roughly 1,200 miles southeast of Tecate.
FESC and Anti-Extortion Center Responded
Agents from the FESC (Fuerza Estatal de Seguridad Ciudadana, Baja California’s state citizen security force) and the state Anti-Extortion Center responded to the father’s report. They confirmed the case as a virtual kidnapping and located the teenager before the family made any payment. No money was lost, and the girl suffered no physical harm.
State officials said virtual kidnapping is one of the most frequently reported extortion methods on Mexico’s anonymous tip line, 089. Most of these calls originate from other Mexican states. The FBI has tracked similar schemes for over a decade. Between 2013 and 2015, the FBI’s Los Angeles Division found that nearly all virtual kidnapping calls targeting U.S. border communities originated from inside Mexican prisons.
How the Scam Works and How to Respond
Virtual kidnapping scams typically begin with a random call from an unfamiliar area code. The caller claims to hold a family member and creates urgency to prevent the victim from verifying the supposed hostage’s location. Scammers may pose as cartel members or corrupt police. On average, families send thousands of dollars before contacting law enforcement.
Authorities recommend several steps if you receive such a call: slow the conversation down, avoid sharing personal or financial information, and try to contact the alleged victim on a separate phone. A pre-arranged family password can quickly confirm whether someone is truly in danger. Anyone who receives an extortion call in Baja California can report it to the 089 hotline or dial 911. The case was first reported by Punto Norte and confirmed by Semanario ZETA.