Human Smugglers on the border are scamming families back in Mexico by placing fake ransom calls demanding money for the release of their relatives, even though the callers do not have the person in their captivity. 

From the AFP (via Google News):

Human smuggling gangs on the US-Mexico border are extorting thousands of dollars from families of illegal immigrants in Arizona by falsely claiming their relatives are being held hostage in a scam that has become known as “virtual kidnapping.”

The smugglers, known as “coyotes,” try to take advantage of the time it takes an illegal alien to cross from Mexico into the United States.

The trend began about a year ago, according to officials with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, and has escalated into one case per week.

“We’re at the point now where it’s almost a weekly occurrence,” said Matthew Allen, special agent in charge of investigations for the Arizona office of ICE.

“‘We have them, you owe us money, if you don’t pay us money, we’re going to harm them,’” Allen said the gangs tell relatives. “Obviously family members are very motivated by that.”