Boy stages own kidnapping to raise money to buy cellphone

How badly do you want that new cellie you've been lusting after? No matter how badly you think you want it, you definitely don't want it as bad as this 15-year-old kid in India. His parents wouldn't give him enough money for a cellphone, so he hatched a scheme: pretend to kidnap himself and use the ransom money to buy himself that new Nokia. The whole thing fell apart when police installed a caller ID box in his parent's home phone line and were able to figure out where he was calling from.

[Via TechDirt]

[Phil @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

typo in last line

and where able to figure out...

think you mean "were"

--copyeditor

[Out4Blood @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Thanks, Phil. You're really helpful.

[Sebhelyesfarku @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

I hope this little bastard will get sodomized in the jail.

[Ant @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

A Cell Phone! This kid is crazy.

He could have came to me and I would have gave him the money for a cell phone, in exchange for writing my .php code!

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

The real question is, why is that womans arm so dang long on the billboard in the story photo.

[Daz @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

because the E700 camera is so shit you have to have an extra long arm to get a self portrait. Only various monkeys and that woman have been known to do it.

[Z @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

Is it just me who thinks that kids from younger generations are developing a new retardation gene?

They're becoming more and more spoiled, overfed, and selfish (all around the world, not just from one country), more demanding, and in certain areas are increasing in stupidity (translation: no wisdom).

First, there's the brat that pretends to hang himself because his parents wouldn't buy him a cell phone, and then actually does. And now this. How many other kids around the world are doing things like this just for a bit of electronic kit?

Pathetic.

[Amen @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

@ #7, i'd like to suggest the following:

a) Yes this "retardation gene" does exist, don't get me wrong i see it every day at school.
b) This gene wasn't as noticable before because "back in the good old days" they didn't have internet or phones or whatever, so even if something this stupid happened no one would know because how are you supposed to hear about it. I doubt someone in this age category would attempt a postal ransom because they would probably get tired or hungry and go home.

[Z @ Dec 19th 2005 12:09AM]

It doesn't have anything to do with "the good old days".

Not as noticable? The post office? I don't know what you're talking about. How old do you think I am? 90?

First off, the kid made a phone call from a landline. Phones have existed for quite some time. It wouldn't be hard for the authorities to track a phone call (which is what they did in this story), even without consumer caller ID.

And secondly, why would you think a stunt like this wouldn't be as noticable if it took place years and years ago? TV, radio, and newspapers have existed for quite some time, too. People hear about things through those sources.

But none of that is the point. The point is, it's pathetic that anyone would try a stunt like this in the first place just to attempt to get their hands on a material possession.

No, I'm afraid the "gene" is becoming more common and increasing in strength. It's not just simply more noticable because of technology and what not. People are getting worse and worse as time goes on, which is a real shame.