'Virtual' kidnapping forces cancellation of tennis tournament

The Mexican Tennis Federation halted a youth tournament in Guanajuato state after discovering that ten underage players and their coach fell victim to a 'virtual' kidnapping scheme.

This form of extortion involves criminals manipulating people into paying ransoms by making them believe their loved ones are in danger, when in reality no one has been physically taken.

The tournament, known as J30 or Juniors 30, represents the entry-level competition series sanctioned by the International Tennis Federation and was taking place in Irapuato.

According to the federation's statement mentioned by AP, all affected individuals, who are residents of Queretaro state, have safely returned to their respective homes.

The scammers involved in such activities, including some operating from prison facilities, rely on psychological manipulation rather than actual abduction to extract money from their targets.