‘High value targets’ are generally people travelling for business and linked to a company likely to pay a ransom or have an insurance policy which will pay out.
Kidnap for ‘demanded ransom’ of independent travellers is still relatively rare and avoiding the very high risk areas where kidnap for political reasons is carried out, reduces the risk considerably.
However there has been a significant increase of ‘express kidnapping’, especially in South America. The methodology here is to get the traveller to pay a ‘ransom’ themselves through theft of possessions and by emptying bank accounts and ‘maxing out’ credit cards.
Generally ‘express kidnapping’ targets couples, it allows the kidnappers to use the threat of harm against one member of the group to force the other(s) to concur with demands.
The advice we give to avoid express kidnapping involves understanding the way these groups operate. If you are unfortunate enough to become a victim then co-operation is your only option; don’t provide the kidnappers with an excuse to prove how serious they are about their threats.
Victims of express kidnapping are generally ‘chosen’ rather than an unlucky casualty of opportunists. Like much of our advice geared at avoiding crime, blending-in, being alert, not displaying signs of wealth and not disclosing your plans in detail to strangers, are all steps which reduce the risk.
We also like to idea mentioned in this article that taking the 2nd taxi in line avoids you getting in a vehicle which is targeting you directly; if this embarrasses you, then just wait a few minutes until someone else comes along and takes the first taxi in line or let the person behind you jump the queue.
Statistics can scare, but some are reassuring. Over 95% of kidnap victims are released and the figure is higher where the motivation is financial gain rather than political. So although kidnap is a traumatic and expensive experience, ‘getting home safe’ which is the ultimate goal, is normally achieved.
At Safe Gap Year our Independent Travel Safety and Cultural Awareness Workshop considers issues of Travel Safety, alongside sessions on Cultural Awareness, Travel Health, Ethical and Responsible Travel, Travel Equipment, Travel Insurance, Destination Advice, Transport Options, Documentation, Travel Money and Insurance and more.
Please visit our website at http://www.safegapyear.co.uk/.
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Source – FT
Date – 21st January 2010
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