Police Find Boy Safe After Virtual Kidnapping Attempt in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Officers from Playa del Carmen’s Public Security Department, working with the State Prosecutor’s Office, found a young boy safe after an attempted virtual kidnapping, authorities said.

The boy’s mother received phone calls from unknown people who claimed they had kidnapped her son and demanded money for his release. She immediately contacted authorities for help.

Members of the Specialized Group for the Prevention and Combat of Extortion (GEPCE) responded, offering emotional support and advising her not to make any deposits.

In coordination with the State Prosecutor’s Office, officers launched a search to locate the boy and confirm his condition.

He was eventually found safe in a public area of the Las Palmas residential development, ruling out that he had been physically abducted.

Virtual kidnapping is a form of extortion in which callers use threats and deception to convince relatives that a loved one is being held captive in order to extract money.

After the boy was located, the mother and son received assistance to go before the public prosecutor and file the corresponding complaint.

The State Prosecutor’s Office is leading the investigation to identify those responsible for the calls and determine the appropriate legal action.