A Chinese student was discovered by police at a makeshift campsite in the mountains of Utah as part of an extortion scheme hatched by online criminals. Police called the incident a “cyber kidnapping.”
Kai Chuan, 17, was reported missing at his high school after his parents received a ransom note with their son's photo on it. Sun report. The boy's parents, who live in China, paid $80,000 into a Chinese bank account “due to continued threats from the kidnappers,” the press release said. CNN.
But the student's host parents, who live in Riverdale, Utah, had no idea he was missing because they had heard his voice in the kitchen in the early morning hours of the day he disappeared.
During the investigation, it was discovered that Zhuang was seen on surveillance footage from a local store and had recently purchased the missing camping equipment. It was also revealed that a week before the alleged kidnapping, Zhuang was spotted by police as he was about to camp and was sent home due to concerns for his safety.
This information led police to believe he may have been attempting to camp alone again.
Local authorities worked with the FBI, the U.S. Embassy in China, and Chinese authorities to finally locate the boy after analyzing bank records, shopping trips, and phone signals.
Riverdale police said Zhuang was found in a tent 25 miles north of Brigham City, Utah, with “warmers, a sleeping bag, limited food and water, and several phones believed to have been used in the cyber kidnapping.” It is said that he had “. the ministry said.
The victim asked for a cheeseburger because he was “very cold and scared,” police said.
Report from France Outlet AFP He noted that the incident was a classic cyber kidnapping, in which online scammers isolate victims, provide them with photos of themselves appearing to be held captive, and instruct them to be monitored via video calls. .
The blackmailer then sends the photos to the family and demands payment. Victims of fake kidnappings typically respond by threatening harm to their families.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., urges Chinese residents in the United States to “increase safety awareness, take necessary precautions, and remain vigilant against 'virtual kidnappings' and other forms of communication and online fraud.” issued a warning. Yahoo!news report.
Riverdale police added that cyber extortionists are targeting foreign students, especially Chinese students.
Do you like Blaze News? Avoid censorship and sign up for our newsletter to get articles like this delivered straight to your inbox. Please register here!
