Mom fakes 4 ‘kidnappings’ of son for ransom

Spanish woman got boy’s father to pay $1.26M in ransom, paper reports

Video: Strange news

'An almighty crack' then rapid descent
July 25: Passengers aboard a Qantas flight survive a harrowing 30,000 foot descent after a 9 foot gash opens in the side of their jet, and parts of the floor and ceiling collapse. MSNBC's Alex Witt reports.

'Sound of Music' hotel

Meow! Big cat caught on tape

Snickers 'Get some nuts' ad pulled

Plumber sees Virgin Mary in sink

Amateur video shows emergency landing

Jilted bride sues ex-fiancé

Most popular

• Most viewed

• Top rated

• Most e-mailed

'Last lecture' professor dies of cancer

Missing tot’s grandmother flip-flops about car odor

Jilted bride calls $150,000 jury award ‘justice’

Dog gone! Lost beagle back after 5 years, 850 miles

After 3 days on street, Miley fan gets makeover

Most viewed on msnbc.com

updated 10:45 a.m. ET Oct. 13, 2006

MADRID - A Spanish woman staged fake kidnappings of her son four times and got his father to pay her more than a million euros ($1.26 million) in ransom money, newspaper El Mundo reported on Friday.

Police in the southern Spanish city of Seville arrested the woman and five accomplices, including the 15-year-old son who cooperated in the deception by calling his father on the telephone and begging him to pay up.

The father paid ransoms after the first three fake abductions without realizing the involvement of his son’s mother, from whom he had separated. He became suspicious the fourth time and hired a private detective, El Mundo reported.