Not all news is always good news for players and community members. A recent case that demonstrates this is that of a 10-year-old boy living in the State of Mexico who was extorted over the phone.
But what could be a valuable enough target for a child to pay the ransom for his mother? His Xbox One console and a pair of earrings, according to the newspaper Milenio. There, it is narrated that this underage boy left his home in the State of Mexico alone to deliver his video game console in the metro to his supposed extortionist. However, upon arriving at the meeting point, the boy asked for help from elements of the Banking and Industrial Police (PBI) at the Pantitlan Modal Transfer Center (CETRAM).
Xbox One
According to the Secretaría de Seguridad Ciudadana (SSC), the boy explained how he was threatened with killing his mother if he didn't hand over some valuable objects from his house:
" For this reason, the boy took an Xbox console and a pair of earrings from his house, objects that he intended to deliver at the Chabacano station of the Metro Collective Transportation System (STC), in exchange for the release of his mother," explained the SSC.
"Given this situation and under the criterion of 'prioritizing the best interest of the child,' as well as in compliance with Article 4 of the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the officers immediately safeguarded the minor," the SSC explained.
Fortunately, the situation did not worsen and the boy's mother was able to be contacted to ensure that she was safe. However, when the father arrived at the station to recognize his son, he explained that he, too, had been deceived into handing over 50,000 pesos to free his supposedly kidnapped son.
The family did not want to make a complaint and instead left the station with the Xbox One console.