Legal Definitions - ransom

Ransom refers to the payment, or the demand for payment, typically money or other valuable consideration, made in exchange for the release of a person who has been unlawfully captured or property that has been stolen or unlawfully seized. It can also describe the act of making such a demand or payment.

• Example 1: Kidnapped Person
  A prominent business executive's child is abducted from their home. The kidnappers subsequently contact the family, demanding a substantial sum of money be deposited into an untraceable account within 48 hours to ensure the child's safe return. The specific amount of money demanded by the kidnappers for the child's release is the ransom.

• Example 2: Stolen Digital Property
  A hospital's computer network is infiltrated by cybercriminals who encrypt all patient records and operational data, rendering the systems unusable. The attackers then display a message demanding a payment in cryptocurrency to provide the decryption key, without which the hospital cannot access its vital information. The cryptocurrency demanded for the release and restoration of the hospital's digital data is the ransom.

• Example 3: Stolen Physical Property
  After a rare antique car is stolen from a private collection, the thieves contact the owner through an intermediary. They offer to disclose the car's location and return it undamaged if a predetermined cash payment is made. The cash payment requested by the thieves for the return of the stolen vehicle represents the ransom.