FBI Warns of Child Abductions Through Rideshares

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a warning for parents after instances of kids being abducted and transported through rideshare companies.

The federal agency warned that the criminals are using ride-sharing vehicles due to the lower likelihood of detection and ease of facilitation.

“Since the onset of Covid-19 pandemic, law enforcement received several reports of rideshare services being used to facilitate child abduction. While other modes of transportation were used during the pandemic, the privacy of rideshare services allowed criminal actors to obfuscate potential witness identification and afforded them direct transportation,” the FBI stated.

Authorities say criminals began using rideshare companies to abduct kids because it gave them more privacy. Since those abductions happened during the pandemic, social distancing and wearing a mask also helped them avoid detection.

The FBI identified a few examples of criminals using rideshare companies to abduct victims. One instance involved a 16-year-old boy who requested a rideshare trip to Texas; the FBI says he was given a drink and then later woke up inside a home about 20 miles away from his original destination. Another instance involved a man from Colorado meeting a minor on social media and then persuading the victim to sneak out of their home to enter a rideshare vehicle at 2 a.m. The child was later found at an airport during a layover.

None of these types of abductions have been reported in North Carolina, but ultimately, the FBI says the best prevention is awareness.

Authorities say if you see suspicious behavior involving children, report the incident to law enforcement immediately. If you or someone you know is the target or victim of an abduction, call 911 or call 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324).