I realise it won't be an encouragement for the organised crime syndicates, but surely it could give the common criminal some ideas and they won't be very smart about it. kidnapping some tart from Brakpan and demanding a million rand ransom from her unemployed family who don't like her anyway.. seriously, I don't think it's a good or smart idea.

gets into very personal areas if a family has the amount they've paid published.
they're telling would be kidnappers that they have the money and will pay it if forced. tempting fate that it might happen again.
I suppose you'd be hiring a security detail for your whole family after a scare like that.

well if these organised crime syndicates have you in their view, they already know you can and will pay it, they do their homework before hand.

If I kidnapped you my ransom demand would be a couple of pickled eggs and a halpeth worth bag of chips!

my husband and family will probably pay you to keep me

no Oreos and Amarula ?

I remember Duncan Bannatyne's daughter was the target of a would be extortionist,kidnapper ..they wanted 35 grand off Duncan. He offered 40 grand for anyone who could identify the would be kidnapper.

that's probably the ransom I would demand if I kidnapped someone

how did that end?

Wasn't there a famous case of a billionaires kid getting napped and the billionaire refused to pay? Years ago ..an ear or a finger was sent and the billionaire still refused to pay.

that bloody sucks

I think it was just a threat made..nobody ever attempted to carry it out.
Paul McCartney had a similar thing happen. Threats made..

ooooh okay.

saw half a video yesterday where an elderly couple got a call from their son saying he's been arrested and the bail is several thousand dollars.
they said they'd pay and ''the police'' officers with their son said they'd show up to collect the bail money in person (big red flag).

they handed over the money and then phoned their son. he was at work and not arrested.

a few seconds of his voice had been recorded and put into an AI to clone his speech patterns. the tech has reached a level where your parents couldn't tell it wasn't you. these fake kidnappings are just starting to take off as a trend apparently.

John Paul Getty's grandson. Grandad Getty refused to pay.

the father was a famous transatlantic pilot ?

Charles Lindbergh ?

Yes. Think he paid up though after receiving the ear

That exactly explains the reason for war. Yep, you definitely do not want to mess with a combat veteran.
Anything else I have to say would require a Top Secret security clearance.