Norway Norway - Anne-Elisabeth Falkevik, 68, kidnapped, cryptocurrency ransom demanded, Oslo, 31 Oct 2018

[cybervampira]

Wife of Norwegian millionaire missing, ransom demanded

The wife of a Norwegian multi-millionaire missing for 10 weeks is believed to have been kidnapped and a large ransom has been demanded for her release, local media reported on Wednesday (Jan 9).

Married to a businessman who made his fortune in real estate and the energy sector, 68-year-old Anne-Elisabeth Falkevik disappeared on Oct 31, the Verdens Gang (VG) newspaper said.

A ransom demand for nine million euros (S$13.99 million) in cryptocurrency has been issued for her release, VG said.

The kidnappers have threatened to use violence against her if her family does not meet their demands, Norway's newspaper of reference Aftenposten said, adding that there had been limited contact with the suspects.

Events like this are extremely rare in the wealthy Scandinavian country, which enjoys a generally low crime rate.

Norwegian police confirmed that "a woman in her late 60s is believed to have been kidnapped from her home in Lorenskog", around 20 kilometres from Oslo, but did not disclose her identity.

Police were scheduled to hold a press conference later on Wednesday.

The missing woman's husband, Mr Tom Hagen, 68, is Norway's 172nd richest man, according to the magazine Kapital, with an estimated fortune of 1.7 billion kroner (S$354.18 million).

The wife of one of the wealthiest in Norway has been away for ten weeks. In cryptocurrency ransom is required.

Dette er Anne-Elisabeth Falkevik Hagen

Fru till norsk miljardär tros ha kidnappats – krävs på nästan 100 miljoner

 

[doodles1211]

Would kidnappers really hold on to someone this long? How long ago did they demand the ransom?

 

[cybervampira]

EUR 9m in Monero Demanded in High Profile Norwegian Kidnapping Case

The wife of one of Norway’s wealthiest businessmen has been kidnapped by a person or persons demanding a ransom of 9 million euros paid in Monero, the most popular privacy cryptocurrency, according to several local news outlets.

Anne Elisabeth Falkevik Hagen (68) has reportedly been missing for 10 weeks, but the news has only become known to the public today due to fears for what might happen to her if the word of her disappearance got out. According to the local VG newspaper, the kidnappers left a written note in the couple’s home saying the woman would be killed if the police got involved.

Due to the sensitivity of the operation, the police have been forced to keep an extremely low profile while investigating the case. This has reportedly prevented the police from searching for the kidnappers as aggressively as they would normally have done, while also limiting their ability to gather evidence in the vicinity of the couple’s residence outside of Oslo.

[...]

 

[doodles1211]

Did they pay the ransom and they didn't release her or let her be found?

 

[StarEyes]

10 weeks is a long time to keep a kidnapped person alive. I wonder if they’ve not hurt her or worse. The cryptocurrency makes a lot of sense for the kidnappers. Crypto is largely untraceable. I hope they find her well and soon. Very scary. jmo

 

[cybervampira]

Did they pay the ransom and they didn't release her or let her be found?

Trying to find more information. Most is from Scandinavian sources right now.

A German source says there has never been a crypto ransom demand ever in Norway and that police has been operating in secret.

I hope they will release more info at the presser.

 

[doodles1211]

10 weeks is a long time to keep a kidnapped person alive. I wonder if they’ve not hurt her or worse. The cryptocurrency makes a lot of sense for the kidnappers. Crypto is largely untraceable. I hope they find her well and soon. Very scary. jmo

Yeah, this isn't sounding good at all.

 

[cybervampira]

Google translation:

Kona til en av Norges rikeste har vært borte i ti uker. Det er mottatt krav om løsepenger i kryptovaluta.

[...]

There should have been very limited dialogue with the alleged kidnappers, but the police will not state how frequent the contact has been or how it has taken place. Aftenposten was informed just before Christmas that no sign of life had come from the woman until then.

Aftenposten knows that there has been communication with "someone at the other end", and that this has happened via a digital platform. There has been a demand for ransom in crypto currency to free the disappeared woman.

[...]

Aftenposten knows that one of the theories investigators has worked on is that an article in Dagens Næringsliv July 27 can be linked to the case. In this article, it appeared that her husband, investor Tom Hagen, has earned NOK 1 billion on power sales over the last eleven years. Only in 2017 he earned NOK 174 million on electricity and property.

Aftenposten has been familiar with the situation over time, but has not mentioned the case for now for the sake of lost life and health.

 

[doodles1211]

Wow, so just before Christmas they proved she was alive. That's good.

 

[cybervampira]

https://www.ccn.com/breaking-norweg...eat-note-demanding-9-million-euros-in-monero/

[...]

According to the Norwegian Newspaper VG.no, Anne-Elisabeth Falkevik Hagen was attacked in her own bathroom ten weeks ago. There are no signs of a forced entry, but the police have found evidence in the house.

Anne-Elisabeth’s husband, Tom Hagen, arrived an empty home October 31st where he found a written letter. The letter was written in Norwegian with spelling errors. The threat note demanded a 9 million euro ransom to be paid in the cryptocurrency Monero. The threat note went on and claimed that Anne-Elisabeth would be murdered if the police got involved. That’s why the police think they are dealing with a kidnapping case.

 

[cybervampira]

Presser live.

Maybe someone Norwegian can summarize?

 

[doodles1211]

Presser live.

Maybe someone Norwegian can summarize?

Yeah, mine is a little rusty

 

[cybervampira]

Yeah, mine is a little rusty

Same here.

 

[cybervampira]

Ransom sought for magnate's missing wife

[...]

On Wednesday morning, as Aftenposten published its report, police put a cordon around the couple's home.

In a statement, police said they had made the decision to make the case public despite threats from the kidnappers, in order to appeal for more information.

The police statement said the main hypothesis "has always been that the woman was abducted against her will" and that "extensive" forensic work has been carried out at the home.

"Our goal is to find the woman alive and reunite her with the family," said Mr Broske.

"As in all serious criminal cases, time is an important factor, and we rely on tips... to help us find the missing woman."

Mr Hagen's lawyers have told news outlets he will not comment on the story at this time.

 

[Penny Parker]

Obviously, being wealthy comes with its own set of problems. I may have to take back all the times I wished I were rich.
But, seriously, I hope they can bring this dear lady safely home.

 

[doodles1211]

Here is some U.S. msm on this case: Nothing really new...

Norway: Businessman's wife abducted; ransom demanded

"Broeske said "those behind have chosen to communicate digitally and we have had no other type of contact." Police had urged the family not to pay any ransom."

 

[doodles1211]

Obviously, being wealthy comes with its own set of problems. I may have to take back all the times I wished I were rich.
But, seriously, I hope they can bring this dear lady safely home.

Yep! I really don't have to worry about being held for ransom.

I sure hope this turns out better than the cases of late, similar to this, have turned out.

 

[cybervampira]

Norwegian billionaire Tom Hagen's wife being held for ransom

[...]

"The reason for us to go public with this case now is that despite a broad and extensive investigation, we need more information," he told a news conference.

"We have no suspects in this case," he said. Police have been "on the case for several weeks. That is all I'd say," he added.

[...]

Police believe she disappeared from the couple's home, some 31 miles from the Swedish border. Broeske said they were working with Europol and Interpol on the case.

 

[cybervampira]

Wow, so just before Christmas they proved she was alive. That's good.

I think that’s Google lost in translation.

It should probably say ”by then“, not ”until then“. The way I understand it is that Aftenposten was told just before Christmas that there had been no sign of life since she was taken. So, I think they have nothing but some electronic messages with demands for ransom, no sign of life.

Maybe one of our Norwegian Websleuthers can confirm?

 

[StarEyes]

I think too much time has passed. I think the likelihood of her being alive isn’t good. I hope he doesn’t pay the ransom now in desperation, as I think she’s passed on.

Cryptocurrency is amazing and I’ve just started to understand it. I’m thinking of some online classes for basics. It fascinates me. What I do know is that it’s basically completely untraceable. There’s several different types of currencies and new ones pop up all the time. Exchanges are made fluidly between different countries. We’re (majority of) really just beginning to understand/use it in the US. Other countries are way ahead. I suppose Norway is one of them.

I’d want to pay the ransom to get my loved one back. In my own opinion, I think she was killed quickly after she was taken. I think if he had or does pay the ransom, all trace of the kidnappers will disappear and they’ll never hope to catch them or find her. Then again, I don’t live in that country, so I don’t understand the likelihood of her being alive and released. This is all JMO, of course.