A young man was kidnapped after being lured into a fake date arranged through Snapchat, authorities in Belgium confirmed Friday, March 13, 2026. The incident underscores the growing dangers of meeting individuals online.
The victim, a man in his twenties, was reportedly enticed to the Opwijk train station on February 7, where he was subsequently abducted. According to reports, the kidnappers then held him captive for a weekend in a garage.
The perpetrators demanded a ransom of approximately $58,000 from the man’s parents, and allegedly sent them images of their son as proof of life. The parents ultimately paid roughly $5,000 to secure his release. HLN reports that immediately after being freed, the young man filed a complaint with police in the Montgomery zone (Etterbeek/Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe/Sint-Pieters-Woluwe).
Police have arrested five suspects in connection with the kidnapping and subsequent imprisonment. DeMorgen indicates the suspects are currently in custody. The case is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.
Another report from HLN details that the victim was also physically abused during his captivity. BRUZZ confirms the five suspects are being held in Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe.
