All articles tagged with #ransom
A February ransom note tied to Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance reportedly apologized for her death and offered to return her body for a multi‑million‑dollar payment, with an initial demand of $4 million (rising to $6 million if not paid by February 9); authorities noted the note came from the same IP as an earlier message, while Nancy’s family publicly urged her return as the investigation continues.
Savannah Guthrie posted a video begging kidnappers to return her mother, 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, and said the family will pay for her safe return; authorities are reviewing ransom notes reportedly sent to multiple outlets, with the FBI investigating the communications.
Nigeria's government dismissed AFP's report that it paid a large ransom to Boko Haram to secure the release of more than 200 pupils and staff abducted from St Mary's School, insisting the allegations are false and that the hostages were freed through professional intelligence and operations with no ransom paid. The piece also notes a leadership shake-up in Nigeria's security apparatus amid ongoing kidnapping-for-profit challenges.
Savannah Guthrie and her siblings released a video appealing to the suspected kidnappers of their missing mother, Nancy Guthrie, after receiving a message and offering to pay for her safe return as investigators pursue leads and a $50,000 reward remains in play.
In the rural, dark Catalina Foothills, investigators struggle to obtain usable video leads in Nancy Guthrie’s Jan. 31 abduction. Guthrie’s own doorbell camera didn’t record due to no subscription, a motion clip wasn’t saved, and authorities are canvassing residents for footage. DNA from blood on the porch confirms her identity; a ransom note prompted a $50,000 reward as the FBI and local investigators pursue any potential clues amid a challenging, light-poor environment.
Authorities say Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance is being treated as a kidnapping or abduction. The FBI has joined the Pima County Sheriff’s Office, and a $50,000 reward is offered. New timeline details show Guthrie was dropped off at her Catalina Foothills home on Saturday, with the garage door opening at 9:48 p.m., her video doorbell disconnected at 1:47 a.m., motion detected at 2:12 a.m., and her pacemaker’s connection severed by 2:28 a.m.; family members checked on her Sunday around 11:56 a.m. and 911 was called at 12:03 p.m. Blood at the porch was Guthrie’s DNA, a vehicle at the home was processed as evidence, and investigators have not confirmed forced entry. Multiple ransom notes exist, including one from an “imposter” who has been arrested. The family is receiving proof-of-life requests and tips can be reported to 1-800-CALL-FBI, as authorities urge caution about unverified information.
Five days into the suspected abduction of Nancy Guthrie from her Tucson-area home, authorities say a ransom note with deadlines has emerged, Guthrie remains unverified as alive, and vital medication is not being received. The FBI and local officials are pursuing leads, with a $50,000 reward offered for information, while the family pleads for her safe return; a man was arrested for an impostor ransom demand, and national attention has grown, including a public appeal from Savannah Guthrie and involvement from high-level officials.
A final group of 130 kidnapped Nigerian schoolchildren has been released and is expected to reunite with their families, ending a month-long ordeal amid Nigeria's ongoing security challenges involving kidnappings by armed groups. The incident highlights the country's broader security issues, including banditry and jihadist activities, with thousands of victims and significant ransom payments, and has drawn international concern and threats of military intervention.
The Sudanese paramilitary RSF is reportedly holding Darfur residents for ransom, with many being beaten, shot, or killed if their families cannot pay large sums, amid ongoing violence and a humanitarian crisis in the region.
The family of deceased TikToker Jiare Schneider is being harassed by fraudsters claiming to hold him hostage, despite his confirmed death. These scammers have been demanding ransom payments, exploiting the family's grief and using contact information from missing-person flyers. Jiare's sister, Jasnique Woods, has reported the harassment to the police, but no arrests have been made. The family continues to receive threats even after Jiare's body was found, and they are focused on uncovering the cause of his death.
Ticketmaster has been hacked, compromising personal information of 560 million users. The hacking group ShinyHunters is demanding $500,000 in ransom to prevent the sale of the stolen data. Live Nation, Ticketmaster's parent company, is investigating the breach and working to mitigate risks. Despite the severity, Live Nation does not expect a significant impact on its business operations. Ticketmaster has a history of both being hacked and engaging in illegal hacking activities.
Ticketmaster's parent company, Live Nation, confirmed a data breach affecting potentially 560 million customers, with hackers ShinyHunters claiming responsibility. The stolen data includes personal details and partial credit card information. The hackers are demanding a $500,000 ransom to prevent the data from being sold. The breach is part of a larger hacking campaign involving other companies like Santander. Live Nation is investigating and working to mitigate risks, while the FBI and Australian government are also involved. Users are advised to be vigilant against potential scams exploiting the breach.
Hackers from the group ShinyHunters claim to have stolen personal data from 560 million Ticketmaster users, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and partial credit card details. They are demanding a $500,000 ransom to prevent the data from being sold. The Australian government and the FBI are investigating, but Ticketmaster has not confirmed the breach. Cybersecurity experts caution that the claims could be exaggerated or false.
Nearly 300 schoolchildren abducted in northwest Nigeria have been freed after over two weeks in captivity, with at least 1,400 students kidnapped from Nigerian schools since 2014. The release follows the abduction of 287 students from a school in Kaduna state on March 7, with the identity of the abductors known to some individuals. Ransoms are commonly paid for kidnappings in Nigeria, often arranged by families, and it is rare for officials to admit to the payments. The release was attributed to the efforts of Nigerian security forces and officials, with the governor expressing gratitude for their coordination and successful outcome.
Gunmen who kidnapped 287 school children in Nigeria have demanded a ransom of $621,848 and threatened to kill all the students if their demands are not met. The perpetrators stated that the kidnapping was in retaliation against the government and security agencies for killing their gang members. The children were taken from a school in Kaduna state, and while some were rescued, 287 remain with the kidnappers. The state government is working to ensure the safe return of the pupils and students, but the region has seen recurring incidents of kidnappings for ransom by bandits in recent years.