Between September 2008 and February 2009, an estimated 10,000 migrants who were attempting to cross the border into the United States were kidnapped and held for ransom.

Source:  Sara Miller Llana, “Mexico mass grave highlights abuse of migrants heading to US,” Christian Science Monitor, August 26, 2010.

In 2009, there were 138 cases of kidnapping for ransom cases reported in the Philippines.

In 2008, there were 135 cases reported.

The ransom payments demanded fell between the range of $11,000 to $44,000 (500,000 to 2 Million Philippine Peso).

Source:  Alexis Romero, “Kidnapping cases up in 2009 – risk consultancy,” Philippine Star, August 20, 2010.

According to information from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, a single pirate can earn between $6,000 to $10,000 based on a payout from a $1 Million ransom.

Source:  UNODC, “The Globalization of Crime,” Chapter 9: Maritime Piracy, June 2010.

In 2008, the average ransom payment that resulted from maritime piracy was between $500,000 to $2 Million. In 2009, reports placed the average payment higher.

Source:  UNODC, “The Globalization of Crime,” Chapter 9: Maritime Piracy, June 2010.

Due to increase maritime piracy and the risk of kidnapping and ransom, the insurance premium for ships increased from $20,000 in 2008 to $150,000 at the end of 2009.

Source:  UNODC, “The Globalization of Crime,” Chapter 9: Maritime Piracy, June 2010.

Between January 2009 and May 2010, more than 110 expatriates working in Nigeria were kidnapped and held for ransom.

Source:  Associated Press, “US warns of Nigerian kidnappings after 2 deaths,” Google News, May 24, 2010.

As many as 20 million Mexicans have fallen victim to “virtual kidnapping” schemes, where callers pretend to hold a love one hostage and demand money to release them.

An estimated 12,000 calls are made each day searching for victims.

Source:  Michael E. Miller, “Mexico: A phone call, a scream and a plea for help,” GlobalPost, April 26, 2010.

In 2003, 65 percent of reported kidnaps took place in Latin America, with 19 percent of reports occurring in Asia.

In 2009, Latin America kidnappings fell to 37 percent, with kidnappings in Asia rising to 36 percent of all reported incidents.

Source:  Sean O”Neill, Adam Fresco, and Russell Jenkins, “Sahil Saeed ordeal exposes growth of homeland kidnap ‘trade’,” Times, March 22, 2010.

According to the newspaper The Times, 19 of the 25 cases of international kidnapping of British citizens reported to the Serious Organised Crime Agency in 2009 took place in Pakistan. The 19 cases were an increase from the 10 cases reported in 2008.

Source:  Sean OiNeill, Adam Fresco, and Russell Jenkins, “Sahil Saeed ordeal exposes growth of homeland kidnap ‘trade’,” Times, March 22, 2010.

In 2008, there were 50,138 formal complaints to law enforcement in Mexico regarding phone extortion. Callers would normally demand ransom payments in order to return the listener’s child unharmed when in fact they did not have the child in their possession.

Out of the 50,138 formal complaints, 4,587 people paid the amount demanded by the callers.

Source:  Tracy Wilkinson, “Telephoned abduction claims bedeviling Mexico,” Los Angeles Times, February 3, 2010.