Advisor Connect
Help Center
Contact Us
800-826-5248
United States
Canada
Hong Kong
Ireland
Israel
Italia
Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand
UAE
IN THIS ARTICLE:
Precautions / Suspicious Call / After the Incident / Download
Virtual kidnapping is a scam in which criminals deceive victims into believing that a loved one has been kidnapped and demand a ransom for their release. Virtual kidnapping incidents are becoming more common, and travelers can be especially vulnerable when they are navigating an unfamiliar location. Below are some steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim.
What precautions can you take before and during your travels?
Inform trusted contacts
- Create a contact list, including local emergency numbers, your embassy/consulate, your emergency contacts and your travel insurance company.
- Share your travel itinerary, including accommodation details, with trusted family or friends.
- Establish regular check-in times with your contacts and inform them immediately if your plans change.
- Consider sharing your location with your trusted contact.
- Agree on a code word or phrase with your trusted contacts that can be used to verify your identity in case of an emergency.
- Discuss what steps to take if they receive a suspicious call or message.
Secure your personal information
- Limit the amount of personal information you share online, especially on social media.
- Adjust privacy settings on social media accounts to restrict who can see your posts.
- Avoid posting real-time updates about your location and activities.
- Be cautious about tagging your location in posts.
- Avoid sharing your travel plans, hotel details or personal information online or with strangers.
- Be mindful of your surroundings when discussing your plans in public.
Use secure forms of communication
- Use encrypted messaging apps for sensitive communications.
- Use a VPN to access personal data.
- Disable automatic connection to Wi-Fi on your mobile devices.
- Only connect to trusted Wi-Fi networks.
- Avoid using public Wi-Fi for financial transactions or sharing personal information.
Get a travel insurance plan the way you want it!
What should you do if you receive a suspicious call?
Understand scamming tactics:
- Don’t panic. A common tactic of scammers is to create a sense of urgency and fear.
- Scam callers can spoof legitimate phone numbers. Even if you receive a call from a known number, it may not be legitimate.
- Scammers can also use AI software to generate photos and videos to make the virtual kidnapping more convincing.
- Criminals can use less than 10 seconds of an audio recording from a phone call or social media to replicate someone’s voice with AI software. If you or your trusted contacts receive a suspected scam call, be skeptical, even if the alleged victim’s voice sounds familiar.
- In some locations, a virtual kidnapping tactic is to call a traveler’s hotel room phone and claim that the traveler is in immediate danger by criminal gangs. Unless you are expecting a call to your hotel room, do not answer. If you do answer and are instructed to give out your information and/or leave your room, hang up and contact authorities, your embassy or consulate and your trusted contact.
- If something feels off, trust your gut and take appropriate precautions.
Try to verify the kidnapping claim:
- Try to contact the supposed victim directly using a different phone or communication method.
- Ask the caller questions that only the real victim would know the answers to.
Do not share personal information:
- Avoid giving out any personal details about yourself or the alleged victim or confirming any information the caller might have.
Do not make any payments:
- For assistance and guidance or if you suspect the kidnapping claims are true, contact the school or study abroad program contact, local authorities and your embassy or consulate.
- Do not agree to any ransom demands without verifying the situation.
What should you do after the incident?
Report the incident:
- Inform local law enforcement and your embassy or consulate about the scam.
- Inform the appropriate contacts within the school or study abroad program.
- Report the incident to your home country’s authorities and relevant fraud-prevention organizations.
Review your security practices:
- Reassess and enhance your personal security measures.
- Change passwords and review privacy settings on your online accounts.
Support and counseling:
- Seek emotional support or counseling, as such incidents can be traumatic.
Virtual kidnapping is a serious risk that can cause significant emotional distress and financial loss. Taking these precautions and protecting your personal information can help you reduce the risk of falling victim and travel more confidently.
Pack a Travel Guard travel insurance plan:
Travel Guard travel insurance plans make it easy to get a quote and purchase. You can do either online at TravelGuard.com or through our service center, which is available at 800-826-5248.
Questions?
Call us at: 800-826-5248
Copyright © 2025, Travel Guard. Non insurance services are provided by Travel Guard.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement | Our Underwriter | Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information | About AIG Ads | Cookie Policy |
Coverage available to residents of U.S. states and the District of Columbia only. This plan provides insurance coverage that only applies during the covered trip. Similar travel insurance coverage, offered by Travel Guard or another insurance provider, may be available through a variety of other sources, but may be subject to different terms and conditions (i.e. benefits, limits, exclusions, etc.). You may wish to compare the terms and conditions of this policy with those of your existing life, health, home and automobile insurance policies, as well as any other coverage which you may already have or is available to you, including through other insurers, as a member of an organization, or through your credit card program(s). If you have any questions about your current coverage, call your insurer or insurance agent or broker. Coverage is offered by Travel Guard Group, Inc. (Travel Guard). California lic. no.0B93606, 3300 Business Park Drive, Stevens Point, WI 54482, www.travelguard.com. CA DOI toll free number: 800-927-HELP. This is only a brief description of the coverage(s) available. The Policy will contain reductions, limitations, exclusions and termination provisions. Insurance underwritten by National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, Pa., a Pennsylvania insurance company, with its principal place of business at 1271 Avenue of the Americas, 37th FL, New York, NY 10020-1304. It is currently authorized to transact business in all states and the District of Columbia. NAIC No. 19445. Coverage may not be available in all states. Travel assistance services provided by Travel Guard.