How to Pay a Ransom

Although kidnappings are a rare event in First World countries, many rebel factions in unstable regions of the Third World consider kidnapping and extortion a customary means of earning revenue to support their cause. And ransom demands can run into the millions of dollars. Organized crime also poses a potential threat, particularly to wealthy families. If you're at high risk, here's what you need to do.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Purchase a kidnap/ransom and extortion insurance policy to protect you, your family and your employees if you live, work or travel in a high-risk zone. Companies such as InsureCast (insurecast.com), AIG (aig.com) and Chubb Executive Risk (chubb.com) offer plans to cover ransom payment, medical and psychiatric care.

2. Insure your business as well as yourself: Both personal and corporate assets are at risk when kidnappers attempt to extort ransom money.

3. Call local police to investigate in the event of extortion or a kidnapping. They will be able to add another layer of security and surveillance to the investigation process.

4. Contact specially trained experts, familiar with the local laws and the dynamics of kidnapping, to swiftly mobilize international resources. This person may work with a private detective to analyze notes, set up a drop site for the demanded money, and protect the premises and the threatened individuals.

5. Check your policy in advance: If you have purchased kidnap or extortion insurance, a private detective and trained crisis-management experts may be covered.

Tips & Warnings

• If you travel frequently to high-risk regions--Colombia and Mexico particularly have large numbers of kidnappings-- insurance coverage could save your life.
• Insurance companies can also assist with crisis-management teams and employee training to minimize losses due to kidnap or ransom.
• Ransom demands are growing each year. Today, there are usually a number of kidnappings in which demands run as high as $10 million.

[guardtoday]

on 3/3/2008 This is informtion that most people do not even think about and should. Thanks for the tips

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