UMVA has learned that a chilling new trend in kidnappings, known as "wrench attacks," is on the rise, with experts warning that criminals are increasingly scouring the web for signs of wealth that could lead them to new victims.
The bad guys are utilizing open source information and social media to find their targets and vulnerabilities, said a retired detective and law enforcement executive. They look for news releases from companies describing wealth, social media posts showing off big expenditures, big toys, big homes.
These wrench attacks can involve complicated crypto transactions, encrypted chats, and conspiracies that may cross international borders. A "mastermind" plans the attack remotely and hires local muscle to carry out a physical abduction, which involves threats and violence to extract ransom.
There have been 34 documented wrench attack incidents in the first four months of 2026, a 41% increase over last year, according to information obtained by UMVA. The vast majority of these attacks have occurred in France, with the United States a distant second.
In more than half of these cases, the real target wasn’t the person taken. Relatives of the real targets can sometimes be hurt in wrench attacks because they are more accessible than the public figures themselves. A high-profile case that has garnered attention is the suspected abduction of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of a well-known NBC journalist.
Nancy Guthrie could have been viewed by someone watching her segment as a vulnerability, her daughter's pressure point. Experts warn that everyone could benefit from minimizing the amount of personal information about them online to avoid becoming a target.
Protecting ourselves requires restricting social media profiles, never posting photos of your home, and being mindful of who the audience is when posting pictures of your children, family, and visible signs of financial security. Paid services specialize in locking down personal information as it appears online, and some tech firms offer free help.
It's a challenging task, as we live in a digital world where more people have the skills to mine open source information to get data about you. Safety in this digital world is similar to advice given to women about their personal safety: be aware.
The investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance remains active and ongoing. Authorities have flagged a report on wrench attacks, and experts believe that if the case is connected, a sophisticated individual may have pulled the strings, using a hired muscle to carry out the abduction.
Predators target others for a variety of reasons, and it is not the fault of the victim they were targeted by a monster who brought evil to their doorstep. Experts urge everyone to be cautious and take steps to protect themselves in the digital world.
