These are the most common types of phone extortion

With the arrival of information on the web and social networks, telephone extortions they have become usual situations for some citizens.

“We are from the organization of Los Choneros, I think that you have been able to hear or listen to us, part of our movement”. This is how those who call people to supposedly warn them that their lives are in danger and ask for a financial contribution in exchange for protection or not harming them usually begin.

In other cases, those who call to threaten or intimidate their interlocutors pass themselves off as members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) or any other organization related to illicit activities.

However, there are specific types of phone scams that criminals have planned in advance. Next, we will tell you about some of them, so that you can identify them and prevent being a victim of this type of crime:

• Virtual kidnapping of a family member: The kidnapping of a family member is simulated and the recording of a person crying is played. Next, the extortionist demands an amount of money to set him free.

• Family member from abroad in trouble: Continuing family relationships, the offender poses as a distant relative with whom there has been no contact for a long time. Arguing that he was detained by the customs authority and that he does not have cash, he asks his relatives to send him money.
• Family extortion: Similarly, kinship is used to ask for money in order to pay off a debt or purchase a gift.

• Threat of death or kidnapping: The extortionist threatens to kidnap or kill a person if an amount of money is not deposited in a bank account.
• Threat of officials: Posing as an official, the offender informs the victim that he has a relative in custody. And he requests a payment for his release.

Extortion, a crime that is increasingly channeled through phone calls and messages; Prosecutor’s Office calls to denounce to combat it

• Prison extortion: Similar to the previous one, in this modality it is communicated that the acquaintance or relative of the extorted person is in jail, requiring an amount of money to free him.
• Contracted debts: Impersonating the employee of a bank or company responsible for the collection of accounts, they are encouraged to pay a supposed debt contracted. To get her to pay, the victim is threatened with garnishment.

• Debt extortion: It has similarities with prison extortion and the modality of contracted debts. To settle a debt, you are asked to deposit valuables in a suitcase that will be picked up later.
• Prize: The extorted party is notified that he has been awarded a vehicle, a trip or money. And the delivery of it is conditioned in exchange for a deposit in a bank, arguing that the prize has more value than the income.
• Business extortion: By impersonating the identity of a partner or a supplier, a business establishment is called notifying an emergency and requesting that a money transfer be made as soon as possible.

What to do when they try to extort me by phone?

Prosecutor Édgar Escobar states that the first thing is to report the incident to the Prosecutor’s Office, in the La Merced building, located on Córdova and Víctor Manuel Rendón, where there is attention from 08:00 to 17:00.

In the Model Barracks (Avenida de las Américas) is the Flagrante Prosecutor’s Office, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“These types of calls have become common, because people are often afraid to report, but they obviously have the obligation to approach the Prosecutor’s Office and file a complaint so that the Prosecutor’s Office can intervene and act immediately in coordination with the National Police.”, expresses the official.

However, some citizens have filed complaints on social networks, as they go to prosecutor’s offices in various provinces and the authorities in charge at that time do not handle the proper complaint. (I)