Kidnapping is known as taking someone against their will by using force, a threat, or some sort of fraud. Once kidnapped, the person is kept under what is called false imprisonment, or holding a person without their permission. Child kidnapping, also known as child abduction, is more common than most people would imagine. Not only are children kidnapped by strangers, but also by their parents or other family members. In the United States, the FBI has the legal authority to investigate the whereabouts of a child who has either disappeared or is suspected to have been kidnapped. A child kidnapping is a criminal act, whether a ransom is demanded for the child’s return or not. Punishment for kidnapping depends on the state where the kidnapping took place.