Kidnappings and demands for ransom or some other form of extortion based on threats of future harm seem like common plots for cheap novels or television dramas. But the drama is often real, and rarely is it resolved cheaply. In today's political and economic environments, the possibility of a kidnapping - especially of an employee working abroad - or the extortion of a payment to prevent harm is very real, and it's increasing.
Kidnapping and extortion (a written or verbal contact threatening to harm or cause damage to a company or person unless a demand is met) are real dangers for companies operating overseas and even in domestic markets. The kidnapping of an employee or a demand for money tied to threats of kidnapping, damaging the assets of a company, or revealing protected or incriminating information can inflict severe damage on a business.
Political and financial gain drive the increase in risk
Ransom payments and the disruption to business caused by extortion can drain resources for an individual or company. To the perpetrator, however, the activity can be quite lucrative. The global recession has increased risk; financial gain, not revenge or political disruptions, has become the motivation for kidnapping and extortion.
Of course, not all kidnappings are the same. While high-profile business leaders might be targeted by criminal gangs involved in a broad range of activities, small-scale kidnappers are common in many countries. Overall, the criminal activity ranges from "express kidnapping" to targeting a company and individual through research on background, financial position, and personal details.
The degree of sophistication varies; the victimization of the individual and company does not. For instance, in some areas, express kidnappings are common, but rarely reported. An express kidnapping occurs when a victim is abducted and held for a relatively short duration of time. The goal is to earn a quick and easy payoff directly from the kidnapped victim by having the victim withdraw money out of ATMs and surrender valuables such as cash, credit cards, cell phones, and jewelry. This high volume/low margin activity is much safer for the kidnapper; the victim, however, is not always released safely. In addition, incidents that begin as express kidnappings can easily transition into more traditional kidnappings with ransom demands.
The business of targeting Americans is profitable
While not all kidnapping attempts are perpetrated by professionals, kidnapping is a billion dollar business around the globe. It is often run by carefully trained teams whose mission is simply to ransom people for money. These kidnapping rings have decision makers, a negotiation team, and an implementation team. It is a worldwide problem, and Americans traveling outside the U.S. are preferred targets, although they may not think of themselves as targets.
