A Chinese exchange student, 17-year-old Kai Zhuang, fell victim to a “cyber kidnapping” scam in Utah, and his parents paid $80,000 in ransom before he was found alive but “cold and scared” in a tent in the wilderness. The parents, living in China, reported their son missing after receiving a ransom demand. In typical cyber kidnapping fashion, the scammers asked the victim to isolate themselves and provide pictures of their apparent captivity, which were then sent to the family for extortion. The police, after analyzing bank records, purchases, and phone ping records, located Kai in a tent about 40km north of his high school in Riverdale, Utah.
Concerned for Kai’s safety due to cold weather, the police found him alive but cold and scared in the tent. The sergeant who discovered him noted the lack of a heat source in the tent, with only a heat blanket, a sleeping bag, limited food and water, and several phones presumed to be used for the cyber kidnapping. Kai’s family had already made a payment of $80,000 to bank accounts in China after being threatened. The police noted that cyber kidnappers have been targeting foreign exchange students, particularly Chinese students. The Riverdale police worked with the FBI, Chinese officials, and the US embassy in China to locate Kai.
This incident highlights the growing threat of cyber kidnapping scams, where criminals use digital means to manipulate victims into isolation and extract ransom payments from their families. It also underscores the need for awareness and preventive measures to protect individuals from falling victim to such schemes.
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