Puerto Vallarta News
Puerto Vallarta News

The most local news coverage in Puerto Vallarta

Thao Viet Le

American teen fakes her own kidnapping in Mexico and demands ransom from parents

American Thao Viet Le, 19, was in France and came to Mexico, where she lived a lavish lifestyle as a party girl by faking her own kidnapping and demanding ransom from her parents.

According to the State Agency of Investigations, the lie fell apart August 29, when the teen was located in the town of Rio Grande, on the coast of Oaxaca. The woman had faked her kidnapping since last January.

In Mexico, she visited Mexico City, Michoacan, Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco and finally Oaxaca, where she arrived in June. There she began to withdraw large amounts of money and, when the money was frozen, she asked her parents for money, claiming she was kidnapped and there was a ransom demand for her release.

During the month that followed, the woman withdrew $6,500 dollars, all that to finance excessive parties with alcohol, drugs and sex, according to reports.

Finally, at about 3:30 pm on August 29, authorities found her and confirmed that the American had faked her own abduction to extort money from her family while living it up in Mexico.

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