What happened after a children’s tennis team was the victim of a “virtual” kidnapping

A team of young tennis players – all minors – and their coach are victims of a virtual kidnapping before a junior tennis tournament in Mexico.

The Mexican Tennis Federation announced on Wednesday, Oct. 30, that an upcoming junior tournament in the central state of Guanajuato was canceled “after 10 players and a coach were taken into custody this morning,” according to a statement released by the organization. on X (formerly Twitter).

According to a release translated from Spanish, the federation said the cancellation was “due to the unfortunate events that took place”, claiming that the players and their coach were “extorted”.

The FBI determines virtual kidnapping as a fraud scheme in which a fraudster pretends to hold someone for ransom in order to extort money from loved ones who believe they are in danger.

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Federal authorities define the victims in these cases as people who were tricked into paying a quick ransom to free loved ones who were not actually in danger. Such schemes have been going on for at least two decades, according to the FBI, which has tracked some virtual kidnappings in the US of Mexican prisoners specifically targeting Hispanics.

According to Associated Pressthe Juniors 30 tournament — the organization’s lowest tournament — was scheduled for IrapuatoGuanajuato, a city located along the river of the same name and known for its agriculture and livestock.

After being “informed of the events”, the federation said they “worked in coordination with the competent authorities, who indicated that what happened was not a public safety issue”.

According to the release, the federation added that both players and the coach – who are from the small neighboring state of Queretaro – have returned home and are said to be “in good health”.