ransom note
Abductor's payment demand
A ransom note is a message demanding payment for the release of someone or something being held captive—typically a kidnapped person, stolen property, or in modern contexts, encrypted computer files.
The note specifies an amount and instructions for delivery: The ransom note demanded $500,000 in unmarked bills.
A "ransom note effect" in typography describes text assembled from mismatched fonts, mimicking the cut-and-pasted letters of classic anonymous demands.
- kidnappingUnlawful seizure of person
- demandForceful request or requirement
- cutoutShape removed from material
- lettersAlphabetic characters or mail
- magazineBound periodical with articles
threat · hostage · proof of life · extortion · anonymous · payment · deadline · pay up · envelope · glue · scissors · pasted · sinister · abduction · missing person · blackmail · police · money
- mystery fictionwhodunit, whodunnit, sleuth, murder mystery, detective novel
- correspondenceletters, letter, handwritten letters, family letters, missives
- thriller tropesplot twist, red herring, cliffhanger, whodunit, femme fatale
- written documentsnewspaper, diary, journal, manuscript, scroll
- threatsdanger, threats, menace, death threats, peril
- Kidnappingkidnapping, hostage, captive, kidnapper, abduction
ransom notethank-you note
Letter acknowledging a kindness
love letter · congratulations card · welcome letter · fan mail · greeting card
ransom notelove letter
Written romantic declaration
valentine · birthday card · wedding invitation · birth announcement · acceptance letter
ransom, note, ransoms, ransomed, ransoming, notes, noted, noting, notable