A Traveller Assist client received a phone call from an employees phone number who was travelling on business in Mexico City. It was 2am. The caller explained that he was holding the employee hostage, requested a ransom to be paid by 8am and instructed our client not to call the police.
In the background of the call, the client could hear a woman screaming and crying.
The executive called our 24/7 assistance centre. Our crisis response team were quickly able to determine that this was likely a virtual kidnapping and continued to assist the client in locating and making contact with the employee. Within 3-hours, our team had located the employee who confirmed that her mobile phone had been stolen.
As a result of this event, Traveller Assist was called in to provide travel safety training for all employees of the company. We also assisted with writing travel risk management policies and duty of care procedures, and we continue to act as their global assistance provider.