Calls demanding money reach Guatemalan families in two ways: someone in Guatemala gets an extortion call, or someone in the United States is told that a relative in Guatemala has been kidnapped. This page gathers the official reporting channels in each country and what the FBI publishes about virtual kidnapping. It is not advice on any case: if there is real danger, call the police. The Spanish version is llamadas de extorsión en Guatemala.
In short: In Guatemala, the PNC publishes the 1574 line (anti-extortion, gang information and extortion) and 110 (Policía Nacional Civil); the Ministerio Público has an online extortion report in its services portal. In the United States, the FBI says that if in doubt, call 911 or your nearest FBI office; tips can go to tips.fbi.gov, and victims of a virtual kidnapping scam can report it at ic3.gov. The FBI explains that in a virtual kidnapping no one is physically kidnapped, and advises you to always attempt to contact your loved one before considering paying.
Where to report
| Where you are | Official channel | What it is, per whoever publishes it |
|---|---|---|
| Guatemala | 1574 | Antiextorsión, Información de Pandillas y extorsión (PNC Comisaría Digital) |
| Guatemala | 110 | Policía Nacional Civil (PNC Comisaría Digital) |
| Online | Registro reportes por extorsión, in the Ministerio Público’s online services portal (mpvirtual.mp.gob.gt) | «Reporte que permite enviar información hacia la Fiscalía contra el delito de extorsión» (a report that sends information to the prosecutor’s office handling extortion) |
| Online | Registro de presuntos delitos de estafa, in the same MP portal | Online complaint for victims of scams that used deception, lies or false promises to obtain money or goods |
| United States | 911 or your nearest FBI office | What the FBI says to do if unsure whether it is extortion or a real kidnapping |
| United States | tips.fbi.gov | Online tips to the FBI; the FBI says tipsters may remain anonymous |
| United States | ic3.gov | The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, for victims of a virtual kidnapping scam |
The Ministerio Público’s home page also lists a Centro de Llamadas contra la Extorsión (extortion call centre) among its services; the page text we read does not show a number next to that name. For a formal criminal complaint with the MP, see filing a criminal complaint with the Ministerio Público; the PNC’s other services are on its hub page.
Virtual kidnapping, according to the FBI
The FBI’s El Paso Division (alert of September 23, 2020) describes it: a victim is told over the phone that a family member has been kidnapped and, through deception and threats, is coerced into paying a ransom; the criminals also threaten harm if the victim alerts authorities. «No one is physically kidnapped in these schemes». The FBI’s alert says callers sometimes claim to be cartel members or corrupt law enforcement, demand payment immediately and usually by wire transfer, and the demand often drops at the first sign of resistance. The FBI adds that many callers are outside the United States making hundreds of calls, and that the calls now originate in other countries as well as inside the United States.
The FBI says, in a 2025 public service announcement (PSA251205, from its Internet Crime Complaint Center), that criminals typically contact victims by text message and send altered photos or videos, taken from social media or other publicly available sites, as “proof of life”. The FBI says that compared with confirmed photos of the relative they often show errors such as missing tattoos or scars or inaccurate body proportions, and are sometimes sent with timed-message features to limit the time to study them.
Warning signs the FBI lists
- A call from an outside area code.
- There may be multiple calls.
- The call does not come from the supposed victim’s phone.
- The caller goes to great lengths to keep you on the phone.
- The caller prevents you from calling or locating your relative.
- The ransom is only accepted by wire transfer.
What the FBI suggests during the call
- Stay calm and try to slow the situation down.
- Avoid sharing information about you or your family during the call.
- Ask to speak to the victim directly; ask how you know your loved one is okay.
- Ask for the victim to call back from their own cell phone.
- If they speak, listen carefully to their voice and ask questions only they would know.
- If you are not allowed to speak to them, ask the caller to describe them or the vehicle they drive.
- While staying on the line, try to call your relative from another phone, text them or reach them on social media, or locate them physically.
- To buy time, repeat the caller’s request and say you are writing it down, or that you need time to get things moving.
- Don’t directly challenge or argue with the caller; keep your voice low and steady.
The 2025 announcement adds: agree a code word only you and your family know; avoid giving personal information to strangers when travelling; screenshot or record proof-of-life photos when possible; and «Always attempt to contact your loved one before considering paying any ransom demand.»
If you already sent money
If the payment went through a money transfer company, contact it immediately: the FTC’s steps and the US rules for cancelling or disputing a transfer are on remittance scams and how to get money back. To report to the FBI, the 2025 announcement asks you to include in your ic3.gov report the phone numbers, payment information, text and audio communications, and proof-of-life photos.
Related
- Remittance scams and mistakes: how to get money back
- Filing a criminal complaint with the Ministerio Público
- Guatemala’s police (PNC): services and numbers
Sources: Policía Nacional Civil, Comisaría Digital, service phone numbers (read 25 September 2026); Ministerio Público, online services portal mpvirtual.mp.gob.gt (read in a browser on 24 September 2026) and home page mp.gob.gt (read 24 September 2026); FBI El Paso, FBI Warns Public of ‘Virtual Kidnapping’ Extortion Calls (September 23, 2020); FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center public service announcement PSA251205, Criminals Using Altered Proof-of-Life Media to Extort Victims in Virtual Kidnapping for Ransom Scams; both read 25 September 2026. General information, not legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What number do you call to report extortion in Guatemala?
The PNC’s Comisaría Digital lists 1574 as its line for anti-extortion, gang information and extortion (Antiextorsión, Información de Pandillas y extorsión), and 110 for the Policía Nacional Civil. The Ministerio Público’s online services portal has an extortion report (Registro reportes por extorsión), which it describes as a report that sends information to the prosecutor’s office handling the crime of extortion.
What is a virtual kidnapping?
The FBI describes it this way: a victim is told over the phone that a family member has been kidnapped and, through deception and threats, is coerced into paying a ransom. No one is physically kidnapped in these schemes. The criminals also threaten harm if the victim calls law enforcement.
How can I tell it is a virtual kidnapping?
Among the indicators the FBI lists: calls from an outside area code, multiple calls, the call does not come from the supposed victim’s phone, the caller goes to great lengths to keep you on the line and to stop you from calling or locating your relative, and the ransom is only accepted by wire transfer.
What should I do during the call?
The FBI’s suggestions include: stay calm and try to slow the situation down, avoid sharing information about you or your family, ask to speak to the victim directly and ask questions only they would know, try to call your relative from another phone while staying on the line, and do not argue with the caller. Its 2025 alert adds: always attempt to contact your loved one before considering paying any ransom demand.
Where do I report it from the US?
The FBI says that if you are unsure whether a call is an extortion scheme or a real kidnapping, contact your nearest FBI office or call 911 immediately; tips can also be submitted at tips.fbi.gov. If you believe you were the victim of a virtual kidnapping scam, the FBI asks you to report it to its Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov with as much information as possible: phone numbers, payment information, text and audio communications, and proof-of-life photos.
