I was demanded a $200 ransom.
“Out of difficulties grow miracles.”
How would you feel if you got on your phone, and at the other end, you heard something like this;
“Hey! We just got our hands on your relative called... and we demand a $500 ransom for her release. We need you to make it available within the next couple of days and if you don't comply, she's gone. And again, if you think you're smart, try bringing the police into the picture. That's the last of it. I'll send you the address now.” Hang up the call.
You will start fidgeting right? At that point, you're confused. All that is in your head and mind is how and where to get such a huge amount of money and also, don't forget, you must be careful not to involve anybody, especially the police.
You're trapped between the Red Sea. You start reminiscing memories about her (the victim). You think of the love between you both. You start imagining her death, and what it would be like if you didn't do something quickly. However, the question should be.
“How and where can I get that money together in two days?” That's funny, isn't it? Or does that sound a little weird? $500?
With the way things went weird and bad, it's sad to always listen to the news of people who were kidnapped and demanded a ransom. And not just a little money, but a huge one, and you are left to wonder if these kidnappers do care about the victims and their families, and to say that they are just too heartless to pull the trigger on them when they do not get the money. Some are even so cruel that they will receive the ransom and still fulfill their wishes by killing their victims.
On many occasions, this kidnapping of a thing could be due to targeting someone who is influential or wealthy, just to go out of their way and raise money from them. It is alarming and apparent to hear about different cases of abduction, while most are for ritualistic reasons.
When I was still with my aunt, I was in my bedroom that afternoon, occupied on my phone when it rang. I saw the caller, and it was my friend. I was wondering why she was calling again at that time because we had already chatted. I breathed as a calm person and I answered the call.
There was a male's voice.
“Hello! Is that Busayo?”
I responded with my heart beating fast as though I was being chased by a lion because of the tone of the voice. “That's right, I am. Who am I on to please?”
Maintaining his thick voice, he went further
“Okay, good! We have your friend in custody, and we need your cooperation. We heard you traveled. It's no problem. If you don't want us to hurt your friend, I'll give you an account number now and you need to transfer $200 right away.”
By that time, my heart had traveled away from my body. I was unable to control myself, but I hung up the call immediately. Various thoughts crossed my mind and I tried to understand the entire scenario of what had just happened.
Why would they contact me? That was my first question, and then there were more questions coming up over and over again.
Why didn't they phone her parents or family? Why me?
Do I want to be scammed here? Was that some kind of joke?
A few minutes later, my phone rang and I was afraid to pick it up because, at that moment, I was more than getting scared and thinking something was about to happen to my friend. I wanted to call one of her parents, but I didn't have their contact. When I decided to take the call, I pressed the green button and I heard laughter.
So this was just a prank? Who dares to play with me? If it was to be a hypertensive patient, trust me, he or she would have collapsed or might have been dead hearing such news, which ended up to be a prank.
The male's voice was my friend's fiance and she came up with such thought to prank me, together with her guy.
I frantically told them that the moment they were demanding $200 from me and I hung up the call on them, I already closed up my mind because no one was ever going to take a pin from me, even if it was real. Why didn't they call her parents first instead of me? Who doesn't need money at this moment? 😂
In all seriousness, I was gone! I didn't know how I came back to myself because that was such an expensive joke. Thank God it was a prank because I don't know what would happen if it were true. I'm scared to death of those kidnappers.
At the moment, a relative of ours was kidnapped and held hostage. He hasn't been released yet, and hopefully nothing will happen. His wife died a few months ago, leaving him with two small children and now it's the dad. What would happen to those children if anything happened? God forbid.
What would you do if you were pranked with such?
Thanks for your time.
Image by Freestocks from Unsplash
[August 15, 2022] (No 227 articles for the year)
Hmm.. That joke was expensive o.. It shouldn't have happened in the first place. If I had the money, on a norms I would send it immediately if its a friend that worth it without thinking and if its a prank. I will remove the friend from the serious people list.
Also for your relative.. I hope he get released by God grace