Kidnappers demanding for ransom in cryptocurrency is not a new thing and sadly as mass adoption increases, so will the rate at which it is used by bad actors to perpetrate evil increase. As it is right now, I think it will be for our own good to protect ourselves by keeping our crypto activities discreet and to avoid living a flamboyant lifestyle. As this will not only keep us safe but also help not to put the lives of our loved ones in jeopardy.
That is just the best way to stay safe from them, which is keeping your privacy, but some people tend to find that so difficult to do because of what they call lifestyle, which may lead them to be victims of such incidents.
We all know that an illiterate will not try to be a criminal, if not, he will be apprehended within a short period of time. That is why most criminals are very intelligent; if not, a normal person that knows nothing about crypto or any related entity will not even have that mindset to collect ransom in cryptocurrency because he knows that they will never trace him no matter what, so he will be able to escape. Although in some cases people around you tend to be the criminal, like your close friend or even family member, so we all have to be very careful who we tell our information to.