What Is Cyber Kidnapping? Here's How It Has Been Impacting India

Cyber kidnapping is a sophisticated form of online fraud where criminals manipulate victims into believing that a loved one has been abducted, compelling them to pay a ransom.

Unlike traditional kidnappings that involve physical confinement, cyber kidnappings rely entirely on deception, psychological manipulation, and advanced technology to create a believable but fake crisis.

Source : Unsplash/Growtika

With the evolution of the internet and artificial intelligence, a new trend has been observed, which is contributing to the crime rate of India. The trend of cyber kidnapping has seen a rise in India. In India, there have been notable instances of cyber kidnapping. In December 2023, a 62-year-old man in Delhi fell prey to this. Earlier last year in March, residents of Gujarat reported receiving calls where criminals, posing as police officers, claimed that their relatives had been involved in serious incidents.

But what is cyber kidnapping? Let's dive into this in detail.

What Is Cyber Kidnapping?

Cyber kidnapping is a sophisticated form of online fraud where criminals manipulate victims into believing that a loved one has been abducted, compelling them to pay a ransom. Unlike traditional kidnappings that involve physical confinement, cyber kidnappings rely entirely on deception, psychological manipulation, and advanced technology to create a believable but fake crisis.

Cyber kidnappers use various techniques to convince victims of the authenticity of the abduction:

• AI Voice Cloning: Criminals use artificial intelligence (AI) to mimic the voice of the "kidnapped" individual. With just a short voice sample (sometimes obtained from social media), AI can generate realistic speech, making it seem like the person is crying for help.
• Deepfake Videos: Some advanced scammers create deepfake videos where a person appears to be in distress, adding credibility to the false kidnapping claim.
• Caller ID Spoofing: Fraudsters may manipulate phone numbers to make it look like the call is coming from the victim’s phone or an official authority, such as the police.
• Emotional Manipulation: Victims are pressured into acting quickly. The criminals create urgency by saying the "kidnapped" individual will be harmed if the ransom isn’t paid immediately.
• Social Engineering & Phishing: Scammers often gather personal details about the victim and their family from social media. They may use this information to make their story more believable.

Who is Targeted In Cyber Kidnapping?

Cyber kidnappers often target:

• Parents and family members of students or professionals living abroad.
• Elderly individuals who may not be familiar with cyber scams.
• Wealthy individuals who can afford to pay large ransoms.
• Business owners who fear for the safety of their employees.

Cyber Kidnapping In India

In December 2023, a 62-year-old man in Delhi received a WhatsApp call featuring what sounded like his nephew's voice pleading for help. The fraudsters had utilized AI-based voice cloning technology to mimic the nephew's voice, convincing the man to transfer ₹50,000 as ransom. He later discovered that his nephew was safe at home, realizing he had been duped.

Similarly, in March 2024, residents of Gujarat reported receiving calls where criminals, posing as police officers, claimed that their relatives had been involved in serious incidents. The callers used AI to replicate the voices of the supposed victims, demanding sums ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh for their release.

In one case, a woman from Vallabh Vidyanagar was told her son was implicated in a rape case; she heard a voice resembling her son's pleading for help. Fortunately, a vigilant relative intervened before any money was transferred.