Exchange student Kai Zhuang is discovered freezing in the Utah mountains after parents pay ransom.

A Chinese foreign exchange student has been found freezing but alive in the US after his parents were extorted out of tens of thousands of dollars in a “cyber kidnapping” scam.

Kai Zhuang was discovered “very cold and scared” in a tent in rural Utah, Riverdale Police said in a statement.

The 17-year-old is believed to have isolated himself after being manipulated by the kidnappers.

His parents were then tricked into paying around $80,000 (£62,600).

…

According to police, victims of cyber kidnapping convince their victims to isolate themselves, and even take pictures of themselves to make it appear they are being held captive - despite the kidnappers not being present. Instead, the victim is monitored through Facetime or Skype.

Both the victim and their families are then convinced the other will be harmed if they do not comply.

  • Candelestine@lemmy.worldEnglish
    451·
    9 months ago

    In case anyone else was mystified about how this could ever possibly work:

    https://www.abc4.com/news/local-news/what-is-cyber-kidnapping-and-how-to-stay-safe/

    Still a little silly to anyone who grew up around internet culture, but slightly more understandable as something that could take advantage of people not knowing that digital information should always be fundamentally distrusted as potentially faked, with no exceptions.

      • Curiousfur@yiffit.netEnglish
        3·
        9 months ago

        They also tend to be wealthier, given that they were eligible for work or school abroad programs.

      • mindbleachEnglish
        1·
        9 months ago

        Hardware store chains have signs at checkout warning against gift-card scams. Straight-up telling people: do not buy this because your phone said so.

      • Might Be@lemmy.worldEnglish
        13·
        9 months ago

        There are many potential reasons that could be, such as relative lack of societal experience in a different country, trust in fellow countrymen due to language barrier, as well as loneliness due the lack of local support structure.

        However, to suggest there is a “cultural tendency toward deference to authority” for the Chinese as if they are some kind of hive mind instead of individual people is discriminatory stereotyping. Please refrain from this in the future.

    • Mr_Blott@lemmy.worldEnglish
      9·
      9 months ago

      I want foreign students to know they can trust the police

      😂😂 Of all the police on the planet… Fuckin hell