Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, August 5, 2026 – A 13-year-old boy was found safe late Tuesday after callers threatened him and directed him away from his home in Volcanes while demanding MXN 100,000 from his mother.
The incident began around midday when the boy received intimidating telephone calls and left his home without telling his family where he was going. The family contacted authorities, prompting a coordinated search involving Puerto Vallarta’s municipal police and investigative police.
Police searched through the Volcanes area for several hours. At approximately 9.50 p.m., officers aboard patrol unit PV-536 located the teenager standing alone in a poorly lit area near the intersection of Huascarán and Nevado de Toluca.
The officers approached after noticing that his appearance and clothing matched the description provided by his family. During the interview, the boy told police that callers had threatened him and instructed him to move toward the hillside. Officers persuaded him to stop responding to the calls and took him back to his home, where he was reunited with his parents.
The case follows a pattern seen in other extortion attempts in Puerto Vallarta. In July 2025, PVDN reported that callers had lured another child away from home and demanded money from his parents. Last month, police also stopped an extortion plot involving a worker who had been manipulated into hiding while callers demanded MXN 300,000 from his employer, as PVDN reported.
These incidents are commonly described as virtual kidnappings. The caller creates the appearance of an abduction by controlling the alleged victim’s movements or communication, then uses the family’s fear to demand money. The victim may be physically safe but isolated and following instructions delivered by telephone.
The Jalisco State Prosecutor’s Office advises people receiving these calls to remain calm, end the conversation, avoid sharing personal information, and try to contact the family member through another channel. No deposits should be made based solely on a caller’s threats.
A suspected virtual kidnapping or any immediate danger should be reported to 911. The 089 line is available for anonymous reports involving extortion and other crimes.
