# Your beloved has been kidnapped. Do you pay the ransom or call the police? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 4, 2015, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beloved-has-been-kidnapped-do-you-pay-the-ransom-or-call-the-police/714154 "2015-03-04T00:19:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![doorhinge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a5b964/32.png) [@doorhinge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doorhinge)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beloved-has-been-kidnapped-do-you-pay-the-ransom-or-call-the-police/714154/41 "2015-03-04T19:01:39Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > The following is a transcript of the hypothetical conversation that would occur at my house if i successfully pulled off the ransom / no-fbi scenario: > > “I’m so glad you’re safe, honey! Damn good thing I didn’t call the police like they told me.” > “You SOB! You didn’t call the cops? Fuxk you, bastard! How could you do that to me? That’s it! Im calling my attorney!” > > So now I’m out $10m ransom, a spouse, and a $100m divorce settlement. Far, far better (and cheaper) to call the cops. 😉 Or not call the cops. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beloved-has-been-kidnapped-do-you-pay-the-ransom-or-call-the-police/714154/42 "2015-03-04T19:08:36Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > No but it clearly makes some posters post tone deaf bad jokes. :mad: [Louis Renault] I’m shocked - _shocked!_ - to find tasteless jokes on the Dope. [/Louis Renault] ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beloved-has-been-kidnapped-do-you-pay-the-ransom-or-call-the-police/714154/43 "2015-03-04T19:15:55Z")
Lots of people taking their cues from Hollywood in this thread. Right down to movie references and pleas to Liam Neeson. The reality is that a huge number of kidnapping victims are killed by their kidnappers. Exact statistics are impossible to glean from Google, but over 40% of child kidnapping victims in the US are killed. [Cite](http://news.eastvillagers.org/2011/09/04/kidnapping-rates/) May be different for adults, as the motive is much less likely to be sexual, but you get the picture. If you don’t pay, this isn’t going to end in Seal Team 6 busting down the door and spraying the bad guys while you smugly hold onto your money. If it’s me, I’m paying the _5% of my lottery winnings_ and making sure that my loved ones are safe before I contact the authorities. Can’t even believe this is a debate. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beloved-has-been-kidnapped-do-you-pay-the-ransom-or-call-the-police/714154/44 "2015-03-04T19:16:35Z")
If I could get them to agree to a public swap, cash for wife, I’d pay. Otherwise, I’d call the FBI. But I wonder: how difficult would it be to get ten million in cash from a bank? Would 48 hours be enough time without telling them about the kidnapping? > [@Shodan](#): > > I can easily spend $100 million tracking the kidnappers down, and still have plenty left to celebrate when they are convicted. Convicted as in “I find you guilty and sentence you to a slow, painful death by gorilla ass-rapings” convicted? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beloved-has-been-kidnapped-do-you-pay-the-ransom-or-call-the-police/714154/45 "2015-03-04T19:18:49Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > The reality is that a huge number of kidnapping victims are killed by their kidnappers. True, although as you mentioned, the motive makes a difference. I would guess that ransom abductees have a somewhat better chance of survival. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beloved-has-been-kidnapped-do-you-pay-the-ransom-or-call-the-police/714154/46 "2015-03-04T19:21:00Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > The reality is that a huge number of kidnapping victims are killed by their kidnappers. Exact statistics are impossible to glean from Google, but over 40% of child kidnapping victims in the US are killed. [Cite](http://news.eastvillagers.org/2011/09/04/kidnapping-rates/) > May be different for adults, as the motive is much less likely to be sexual, but you get the picture. If you don’t pay, this isn’t going to end in Seal Team 6 busting down the door and spraying the bad guys while you smugly hold onto your money. > If it’s me, I’m paying the _5% of my lottery winnings_ and making sure that my loved ones are safe before I contact the authorities. > > Can’t even believe this is a debate. Sure but if you _do_ pay, the kidnappers will also just as likely kill your loved one. If you pay- she will likely die. If you dont pay- she will likely die- but at least you have a chance of the FBI catching them before they off her. ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beloved-has-been-kidnapped-do-you-pay-the-ransom-or-call-the-police/714154/47 "2015-03-04T19:24:02Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Sure but if you _do_ pay, the kidnappers will also just as likely kill your loved one. > > **If you pay- she will likely die.** > If you dont pay- she will likely die- but at least you have a chance of the FBI catching them before they off her. Cite? ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beloved-has-been-kidnapped-do-you-pay-the-ransom-or-call-the-police/714154/48 "2015-03-04T19:33:30Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > Cite? Well, on “Law & Order” I saw … 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beloved-has-been-kidnapped-do-you-pay-the-ransom-or-call-the-police/714154/49 "2015-03-04T19:33:57Z")
Go to the authorities. Then spend a substantial portion of the lottery money making sure the kidnappers are caught and _killed._ I’m vengeful that way. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beloved-has-been-kidnapped-do-you-pay-the-ransom-or-call-the-police/714154/50 "2015-03-04T20:43:24Z")
Call the police. I’m not equipped to properly handle the situation on my own. How do I know it’s really my wife’s ear? How do I know she was alive when it was cut off? How do I structure the payout to make sure I get her? Etc. Even if I wanted to keep the police out of it, I’d be a total moron to try it myself. Furthermore, I would tend to assume that “police help me recover my wife” is a more likely scenario than “hostage-takers live up to their word and return her.” I guess I just have a low opinion of hostage-takers, especially those who’ve already maimed their victim. Besides, I’m rich now. Time for a young trophy wife anyway. 🆒 (Actually, I said that in jest, but it makes me think: if she winds up dying and I didn’t go to the police right away, I wonder how that looks? A divorce is expensive compared to pretending that she was kidnapped and killed. If she isn’t rescued, I have to imagine I’m suspect #1 regarding her death.) I just thought I’d add an edit: If I got to the police and they say “Your best bet is to pay” then I’ll pay, using them as a resource to make sure it’s done right. It’s not the payment that bothers me, but the being sure that I get what I want in return. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beloved-has-been-kidnapped-do-you-pay-the-ransom-or-call-the-police/714154/51 "2015-03-04T20:52:03Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > Cite? Cite _what_?😕:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Whiskey\_Dickens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/9fc348/32.png) [@Whiskey\_Dickens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whiskey_Dickens)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beloved-has-been-kidnapped-do-you-pay-the-ransom-or-call-the-police/714154/52 "2015-03-04T20:53:23Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Cite _what_?😕:rolleyes: The bolded portion in your quote. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beloved-has-been-kidnapped-do-you-pay-the-ransom-or-call-the-police/714154/53 "2015-03-04T20:55:08Z")
> [@Whiskey\_Dickens](#): > > The bolded portion in your quote. Sure, once you cite that paying has a better chance of getting your wife back. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beloved-has-been-kidnapped-do-you-pay-the-ransom-or-call-the-police/714154/54 "2015-03-04T21:38:50Z")
I pay the ransom and get my beloved back. Then, I track them down, one by one…I have a very special set of skills… ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beloved-has-been-kidnapped-do-you-pay-the-ransom-or-call-the-police/714154/55 "2015-03-04T21:54:49Z")
Cops. You have no real reason to believe he/she will be returned, if you pay. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beloved-has-been-kidnapped-do-you-pay-the-ransom-or-call-the-police/714154/56 "2015-03-04T22:12:49Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Convicted as in “I find you guilty and sentence you to a slow, painful death by gorilla ass-rapings” convicted? Unfortunately no. Convicted as in “convicted and I hire a team of lawyers to show up at all your parole hearings for the next fifty years and do what is necessary so you never get out.” I also make it a point of sending postcards from the various vacation resorts I visit saying “See how I am enjoying myself and you are in prison for the rest of your life?” Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beloved-has-been-kidnapped-do-you-pay-the-ransom-or-call-the-police/714154/57 "2015-03-04T22:15:51Z")
Maybe this is tampering with the hypothetical, but why would any kidnappers truly believe that the victim’s family _isn’t_ secretly contacting police regardless? Why would they take any victim’s family at their word when they say, _“Yes, we’re sending the $10 million to you right now, no, we didn’t contact police; really, we did not call the cops?”_ ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beloved-has-been-kidnapped-do-you-pay-the-ransom-or-call-the-police/714154/58 "2015-03-04T22:25:04Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Maybe this is tampering with the hypothetical, but why would any kidnappers truly believe that the victim’s family _isn’t_ secretly contacting police regardless? Why would they take any victim’s family at their word when they say, _“Yes, we’re sending the $10 million to you right now, no, we didn’t contact police; really, we did not call the cops?”_ That’s irrelevant. The hypothetical isn’t about the kidnappers should do. Don’t make me start quoting Clausewitz at you. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beloved-has-been-kidnapped-do-you-pay-the-ransom-or-call-the-police/714154/59 "2015-03-04T22:29:09Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > That’s irrelevant. The hypothetical isn’t about the kidnappers should do. It is partly relevant, though. If the kidnappers believe the victim’s family secretly contacted police anyway despite a promise not to, they may likely retaliate by killing the victim despite having received ransom. And if the family does not send ransom, then the kidnappers will probably assume that the victim’s family has gone the defiant route and called the cops anyway - again leading to likely murder of the victim as retaliation. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2015, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beloved-has-been-kidnapped-do-you-pay-the-ransom-or-call-the-police/714154/60 "2015-03-04T22:57:27Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > It is partly relevant, though. If the kidnappers believe the victim’s family secretly contacted police anyway despite a promise not to, they may likely retaliate by killing the victim despite having received ransom. > And if the family does not send ransom, then the kidnappers will probably assume that the victim’s family has gone the defiant route and called the cops anyway - again leading to likely murder of the victim as retaliation. If I’m the kidnapper, I’m killing the hostage either way. After I’ve given the spouse proof of life, I’m killing the hostage, and then just waiting for the ransom. If for some reason I haven’t yet killed the hostage when I receive the ransom, I’m certainly killing him/her then. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beloved-has-been-kidnapped-do-you-pay-the-ransom-or-call-the-police/714154.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-beloved-has-been-kidnapped-do-you-pay-the-ransom-or-call-the-police/714154.md?page=4)