Australian scam

If there is money involved sunseeker it will not be long.

I wish them luck trying to get money out of my family lol it would be like that film, Ruthless People, with Bette Midler and Danny DeVito

We live in an area with no mobile signal, so it won't work too well on us! Anyway, all the children know that DH hardly ever turns his phone on. Perhaps there are some advantages to being a dinosaur!

Wouldn't you ring your supposed kidnapped relative at once?

But Katy their phone is switched off.

Although you would obviously phone round their friends, workplace or school before trotting off to the bank to transfer the amount demanded.

How do the 'kidnappers' know you actually have any money, anyway?

My sons would laugh their socks off if anyone kidnapped me (or pretended to) and tried to get money out of it.

DH would just say, 'It's no good asking me. SHE'S got all the money'

How do they know the numbers of family and friends? Am I missing something?

I think this story has been doing the rounds for some time, usually in the UK about someone in continental Europe on holiday being the alleged victim. I have never seen any evidence that it is anything other than a story - but it could be true.

I live in Australia and read and watch the news daily, I haven't heard any such thing happening here.

I can just imagine it all. On Facebook, Twitter or any other social media a message is quickly posted: "hey cobbers I just had a call from some kidnapping bastards and those drongos have kidnapped me best mate." News travels fast and in fact the victim is soon tracked down and is found having a few hours peace and quiet without being distracted by his mobile phone.