Hostage-taking trends businesses should know

In today’s landscape, however, the concept extends beyond physical detention. Cyber extortion - where companies’ digital assets can be “held hostage” - and AI-driven scams represent a significant shift in how criminals exert control.

Traditional kidnappings, especially of local nationals, remain a prominent risk, yet cyber extortion and AI-driven scams are rising in frequency and complexity. This convergence of physical and digital threats poses unique challenges, requiring organisations to expand their risk assessments.

An employee’s safety, the integrity of corporate data, and the organisation’s reputation are all at stake. Each form of hostage-taking can trigger disruptions, potential reputational harm, and even legal complications across jurisdictions. Companies must therefore adopt a holistic approach to crisis preparation, incorporating both physical and digital strategies into their risk management frameworks.

Modern hostage techniques and trends

Express kidnappings

Express kidnappings are short-term abductions where victims are held temporarily to extract cash or valuables, often via ATMs. This tactic is appealing to criminals because it’s fast, low-risk, and often goes unreported until it’s too late to intervene. Typically, kidnappers force the victim to withdraw money or transfer funds, with the encounter lasting only a few hours.

• Key features: Victims are often chosen at random, seized in public places, and transported to a nearby ATM or safe location to extract cash. The short timeframe minimises the chance of police involvement, and the quick payout requires minimal effort from the kidnappers.
• Company risks and implications: Employees, particularly those travelling in high-risk areas, face the potential for unplanned costs, trauma, and safety risks. These incidents also expose companies to potential reputational harm, especially if multiple employees are affected over time or if incidents escalate.
• Mitigation strategies: Organisations can prepare by educating employees on situational awareness, providing guidelines on safe routes and travel methods, and advising against carrying large sums of money or valuables when travelling alone.

Cyber extortion

Cyber extortion involves holding digital assets, systems, or data “hostage” by threatening to corrupt, leak, or destroy them unless a ransom is paid. As traditional bank robberies decline, cyber extortion offers criminals a more secure and often anonymous way to target organisations.

• Key features: Cyber extortion can include ransomware attacks, where files are encrypted and held for ransom, or data theft, where critical information is stolen and a ransom demanded to prevent public disclosure. Criminals may target financial records, customer information, or proprietary data.
• Company risks and implications: Cyber extortion impacts go beyond direct financial loss. Companies face operational disruptions, potential regulatory violations, and reputational damage. The impact can extend to clients and partners as well, spreading the risk to anyone linked with the compromised systems.
• Mitigation strategies: Companies must develop robust cybersecurity frameworks, conduct regular backups of critical data, and implement strict access controls. Preparing a response plan with a focus on incident containment and damage assessment can also mitigate immediate impacts.

AI

With advancements in AI, cybercriminals are using tools that allow them to mimic voices, creating highly believable extortion schemes that target families or business partners. These scams involve simulated calls or messages that appear to come from a known individual, typically demanding urgent action or a ransom.

• Key features: AI-driven scams can recreate voice patterns from public presentations or social media posts, creating convincing impersonations. Victims may be asked to verify identity or make payments under the belief that a loved one or executive is in danger.
• Company risks and implications: These scams can deceive high-level employees or family members, resulting in financial losses and potential exposure of sensitive information. The psychological impact on victims can be profound, affecting morale and trust within the organisation.
• Mitigation strategies: Companies can implement multi-factor verification procedures for sensitive communications, encourage the use of “code words” for identity confirmation, and educate employees about emerging AI threats. Employing AI detection tools for voice and message verification can also reduce risk.

Insider threats

Unlike external threats, insider threats arise from individuals within the organisation who have access to sensitive information or systems. These individuals may be current or former employees, contractors, or business associates. Motivations vary and can range from personal grievances to financial gain or loyalty to a competitor.

• Key features: Insider threats are difficult to detect, as the individuals involved typically have legitimate access to systems and data. These threats can manifest as data leaks, intentional sabotage, or unauthorised sharing of proprietary information.
• Company risks and implications: The impact of an insider breach can be significant, potentially leading to intellectual property theft, compromised customer data, or competitive disadvantages. Unlike external breaches, insider threats are more challenging to prevent due to the inherent trust and access levels within an organisation.
• Mitigation strategies: Companies should implement strict access control policies and conduct regular audits to identify unusual activity. Background checks during hiring, exit protocols for departing employees, and ongoing education about data security can also reduce the risk.

Fortunately, many international organisations have included hostage-taking risks on their registers. Preparing for this possibility - despite the hope it will never happen - ultimately means creating comprehensive response plans. If you ever receive a message or notification claiming that someone you know has been taken hostage - especially from an unknown source - pause and verify before reacting. Scammers and bad actors exploit fear to manipulate victims, so always check the legitimacy of the information through trusted channels before taking any action.