In León, extortion calls have been detected from prisons in the country, and even some from the same city. As a preventive measure, the accompaniment for individuals withdrawing money from banking institutions during this season will be intensified. This free service can be requested through 911. The Municipal Police have carried out more than 2,000 accompaniments for account holders, which has allowed the identification of at least two criminal gangs dedicated to this type of theft.
Jorge Guillén Rico, the Secretary of Public Security of León, pointed out that although extortion is a constant crime in the city, it is necessary to reinforce prevention during the year-end period due to the high flow of money from Christmas bonuses and vacation periods. So far this year, 69 interventions have been made with individuals who were victims of phone extortion, a crime that occurs in 90% of cases through this modality.
In recent cases, Juan Ignacio Torres Ruiz, the director of a primary school in Urbivilla del Roble, was interviewed due to a supposed extortion call demanding money. For its part, the 911 emergency system has received more than 200 reports of extortion, some of which came after the victim had made the requested deposit.
In response to these crimes, Guillén Rico emphasized the importance of hanging up the phone immediately, reporting to 911, and not making deposits or engaging in prolonged conversations. The promise of accompaniment from the Municipal Police guarantees that a patrol will arrive within a maximum of 5 minutes to provide guard and protection services to citizens who request it when withdrawing money from financial institutions.
