( CNN ) An ISIS outfit based in northeastern Syria has been drawing up plans since at least the middle of last year to kidnap Westerners and others in neighboring countries , a Middle East security source told CNN on Friday . The source said the terrorists want to go into countries such as Lebanon and Jordan and bring hostages back to Syria , where they could be used in ISIS propaganda videos , according to intelligence gathered on the planning . After producing at least seven highly publicized clips in which hostages were beheaded , ISIS may believe it needs to kidnap more people . It 's hard to know how many captives ISIS and other groups have because governments , employers and families tend to keep kidnappings quiet for fear of putting the victims in greater danger while negotiators work to secure their release . The group , which is based in the area of Raqqa , has financial resources to sneak across borders and bribe security guards who might be sympathetic to their cause . Some of the funds have come from ransoms paid for the release of other hostages . A new ISIS-affiliated group in Egypt might be keen to help snatch Westerners . Opinion : ISIS has miscalculated . CNN national security commentator and former Rep. Mike Rogers said the report is `` very plausible . '' The large number of refugees streaming out of Syria into Lebanon and Jordan could give the terrorists cover at the border , he said . ISIS may try to capture aid workers at the refugee camps . There are many ISIS sympathizers in northern Jordan , which borders Syria , said Lt. Col. Rick Francona , a retired airman and a former U.S. military attaché in Syria . `` And that border is very , very porous , '' he said . Another big concern , the experts said , would be that other groups could abduct people and sell them to ISIS . `` It is a cash business . We should make no mistake about it , '' Rogers said . ISIS putting price tags on Iraqi children , selling them as slaves , U.N. says .
ISIS has beheaded hostages for propaganda purposes and traded some for ransom . Comment: There are many camps near the borders housing refugees -- and aid workers .