Faking your own kidnapping or death might seem like the stuff of a Hollywood blockbuster, but over the years there have been several real-life cases of staged crimes orchestrated by cunning fraudsters.
Just last week, Chilean woman Maria Olivares Veloso made headlines after she apparently faked her own kidnapping in a desperate bid to extort $70,000 from her wealthy father to pay off her debts.
She hired a man by the name of Richard Ponce to demand the money from her father by sending graphic images of her bound and gagged. But police became suspicious and ended up arresting the pair when they went to collect the cash.
There have been numerous stories over the years of people faking crimes for various reasons, including escaping unwanted relationships and evading investigation for criminal conduct – but debt and financial troubles are said to be the most common reason.
But those who attempt to run away and start over risk paying a heavy price if they’re caught, with their actions potentially giving rise to criminal charges.
Famous Cases of ‘Faked’ Crimes
Some might remember David Fincher’s psychological thriller Gone Girl, which centres on the mysterious disappearance of Amy Dunne.
In a case that draws striking parallels with that film, Californian woman Denise Huskins was reported missing by her boyfriend earlier this year. A voice recording emerged soon after, purportedly from Ms Huskins, declaring that she had been kidnapped. Her partner claimed that kidnappers demanded an $8,500 ransom.
This sparked an extensive search involving more than 40 detectives and 100 volunteers – but upon further investigation, it transpired that no abduction had occurred. Rather, the entire event had been orchestrated by the pair. Ms Huskins was located a short time afterwards in Huntington Beach, where both of her parents reside.
Other examples of staged crimes are even more sophisticated. Perhaps the most famous is the case of John and Anne Darwin, a UK couple who found themselves in tens of thousands of pounds debt. In a bid to start over, John embarked on a canoeing trip and supposedly ran into trouble, with his wrecked canoe being discovered a short time later. He was presumed dead, allowing his wife to cash in on life insurance.
In reality, Darwin was alive and well, and he spent several years living in secrecy next door to the family home. He later fled with his wife to Panama, where they lived a seemingly comfortable life for some years. It was only when John returned to the United Kingdom, feigning amnesia and claiming no recollection of the past five years, that the plot unravelled. The pair were convicted of fraud charges and sentenced to 6 years’ imprisonment, with all remaining profits being confiscated.
Closer to home, Queensland girl Natasha Ryan disappeared without a trace at the age of 14. Her boyfriend, Scott Black, was later charged and stood trial for her murder.
But in a dramatic twist of fate, Ryan suddenly emerged halfway through the murder trial. It was discovered that Ryan had spent the previous six years hiding-out in her partner’s cupboard, leading to her being dubbed the ‘cupboard girl.’
Both Ryan and Black were found guilty of causing a false police investigation. Ryan was fined $1000 but escaped having a conviction on her criminal record, while Black was sent to prison for 12 months. He was also ordered to pay $16,740 towards the cost of the police investigation.
Despite their ordeal, the couple ultimately married in 2008.
The Legal Consequences if You’re Caught
As these stories suggest, those who try to cash in on insurance by faking their own kidnapping or death could face heavy penalties for dishonesty and fraud under the law.
In New South Wales, those who engage in this kind of conduct may face charges of ‘fraud’ under section 192E of the Crimes Act 1900, which says that:
‘A person who, by deception, dishonestly obtains property belonging to another, or obtains any financial advantage or causes any financial disadvantage, is guilty of the offence of fraud.’
The maximum penalty is 10 years’ imprisonment.
Heavy penalties also apply for those who make fake identity documents, such as passports or driver licences, in a bid to reinvent themselves and start afresh.
Under section 192K of the Crimes Act, a person who possesses identification information with the intention of committing, or of facilitating the commission of, an indictable offence is guilty of an offence.
The maximum penalty is 7 years imprisonment.
Attempting to frame someone else for a crime falls under the offence of ‘false accusations’, which attracts a maximum penalty of 7 years imprisonment. The same maximum penalty applies for hindering an investigation of a serious indictable offence.
Partners of those who conceal an orchestrated kidnapping or murder may also find themselves in hot water under the law. A maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment applies under section 316 of the Crimes Act to those who know or believe that a serious indictable offence has been committed, and who have information which may be of ‘material assistance in securing the apprehension of the offender or the prosecution or conviction of the offender’ but fail to bring this information to the attention of police.
A higher maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment applies to those who solicit, accept or agree to accept any benefit for concealing a serious indictable offence.
There is also an offence of ‘public mischief’ under section 547B of the Crimes Act, which comes with a maximum penalty of 12 months’ imprisonment and/or a $5,500 fine for those who knowingly make a false representation to a police officer about an act which calls for an investigation.
In addition, a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment applies for the offence of ‘perverting the course of justice, which refers to any attempt to obstruct justice – for instance, destroying evidence, making false statements and so on.
These onerous penalties suggest that it may be better to face the music rather than run away from your past by making things up.
Hello
Mr Nedim I’m 56 years old Wife is 55 years old we had 4 children at that time and she was als pregnant.
The matter is regards Natasha Ryan and Scott Black. The first ? Can they punish someone name if they have is age wrong
2nd ? Do Police have the right to remove a minor from school grounds with out a support person or a legal guardian.
3rd ? Can the legal guardian lay different criminal Charges. After they have been convicted and sentenced on their previous charges that give probable case of other charges.
This is just the start when they wrongly Accused my son off Natasha Ryan Disappearance and Murder.
Said in fact printed and published in the Police report that released to there own Police crime reporters then to social media news papers magazine news channel here and all around the world.
Hello
Mr Nedim this the following on of the questions I asked earlier in my first correspondence with you.
I first would like to thank you for your time on behalf of my family for all of nearly 25 years no law firm no police commission no Qld government departments from Premier to acting to the local MP all just passed the buck .
So thank once again from the bottom of our hearts. Our son’s D.O.B. is 03/06/1984. Arrested on the 31/08/1998 these dates are the indication of his right age 14 years 2 months 28 days old.
We never ever have been given or shown any compassion or any Duty of Care from school Police social media or told of our human rights in this country. Since only being here from N.Z in 1995 not even 3years
I was offered a permanent job in meat industry position a Beef Bonner a very high chance really to rent to bye our own home. Also becoming a public servant again as I was in N.Z Teaching and Coaching Rugby League in club level and the schools. It to became a reality as well. Bring our 4 children up here was great that was when decided to try for more kids it was affordable be orsum. Our home we brought coast $120.000 . everything was ok living the best times ever.
We lost all this my work became harder my children being horased at school public were awear now my work place people I thought were my friends turn there noses up me some even declined to work beside me.
The heavy police surveillance 28 Hr around the clock the door knocking around the nabiohr hood around the town.The school students he was arrested in front of the covisations they to tell there parents. Again the talk in my other work place Teaching and Coaching Rugby League.
Because people had made there minds up about this family we were a disgrace now we were deemed as disfuntional and family not to trust we lost our home my jobs and the son trying to take his own life occasion even when the police brought him home to us this is were that word disfuntional came from these police officers. Our son first time was in front of his little brother and sister. Then to top matter of my wife was diagnosed with brain cancer. We were looking aborting the pregnancy and having a abortion.
We always did what the high ranking Police Officers told us to do and never did we stop them entry into our home regarding what hour of the night or day it was obayed every court order informed by the police
We never ever got help from any QLD government departments before even after she was found alive. Just more greaves we all as a family never been apologized to by her or Police her family him Scott Black his family the media no one took responsibility. This is a despicable discusting act done to this family I have watched every single member go through own pain and suffering Trauma mental abuse caused by all in this case
I’m now 56 years old been diagnosed with a heart condition my wife tried taking her own life she now is been under mental health and on so much medication.We have used every cent we saved my superannuation funds claims Financial hardship we are now on the center link payments with a concession card. We can pay some money and set up a automatic payments directly to the account you wish. I can offer you any members of your direct descendants a bond to this family that will give yous love respect honesty what is our is yours also the respect from my people in N.Z Taranaki Maori my Iwi my tribe Nga Te Maru name of tribe this my inheritance from my Father the Chief is waiting for me on my return.
This is hard to go home to be when I can’t even protect my own and have let my family down if we can get closure to this with your this and my offers I put on the to you will be Honored.
All these years I have been doing my paper trail found more and more things that has discriminated them selfs Natasha Ryan has a lot to answer for even witnessing my son being Raped and when the complaint was made to them in the Arrest of my son in 1998 in his statement he given to police. It was not mentioned to me by police or was it his statement he given of the disappearance murder charges. It was not till 6 years later I found out I said to my son why didn’t you tell me he said I thought you knew the police wrote down when being questioned about Natasha Ryan l no son nothing was said or written in the statement given to me and mum. I asked who was he said it was Lenard Fraser and Derek Wagg this Fraser was whom the police paid money to inmates for falsely obtaining written statements I do have a lot of discriminating facts on all these corrupt Police whom all 4 High Ranking Police Officers we guilty of in obtaining everdance in this case and 2 other cases in around the same years they investigating Natasha Ryan case.
This is more bigger then you know I spent time in jail for assaulting Derek Wagg nearly killing him I tried to get Lenard Fraser serial killer all because of no faith in the police
Please please please please help me help my family for Justice and closure so me and my wife can home in peace money and nice material things don’t much to us both now. If there is money to come from this I only want enough to pay for mine and my wife burial and little bit in each of my children bank Accounts and you my friend you I will give the rest too kind regards Ali and Wendy