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Chinese Exchange Student Victim of 'Cyber Kidnapping' Scam in Utah

Growing Trend of Online Extortion Schemes Targets Vulnerable Foreign Exchange Students

  • 17-year-old Chinese exchange student Kai Zhuang was found 'very cold and scared' in a tent in rural Utah, following a 'cyber kidnapping' scam that extorted $80,000 from his family in China.
  • The 'cyber kidnapping' trend involves criminals tricking victims into isolating themselves and staging their own kidnappings, convincing their families they've been forcibly kidnapped and demanding ransom money.
  • Zhuang's case is part of a growing trend targeting foreign exchange students, particularly those from China, with the FBI noting that such cases have evolved to impact residents across the U.S.
  • Advancements in technology, including artificial intelligence and social media, have facilitated these crimes, making them easier to commit and more difficult to trace.
  • Experts advise awareness of the problem, vigilance with personal information, and immediate contact with local police in the event of suspected 'cyber kidnapping'.
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