The Guardian - China-Chinese teenager found alive in Utah woods after cyber-kidnapping scam
January 2, 2024 3 min 432 words
这起“网络绑架”事件让人深感震惊。中国交换生庄凯陷入“网络绑架”骗局，其父母被敲诈80,000美元，最终在犹他州的荒野中被发现。这不仅揭示了网络犯罪的狡猾手法，也凸显了对留学生安全的日益紧迫关切。庄凯在帐篷中被发现时“冷而害怕”，这突显了网络犯罪的残酷性质。犹他州警方通过分析银行记录和电话数据展现了高效合作，最终找到了他。此案警示我们，需要进一步强化国际间的协作，以对抗这种跨境网络犯罪。同时，中国大使馆提醒在美中国公民加强安全意识，也表明网络绑架对留学生的威胁不可忽视。这起事件呼吁全球共同努力，共同应对这一新型犯罪威胁。
A Chinese exchange student who fell victim to a “cyber-kidnapping” scam, in which his parents were extorted for $80,000, was found alive but “cold and scared” in a tent in the Utah wilderness, police said.
Kai Zhuang, 17, was reported missing on Thursday after his parents in China told officials at his host high school in Riverdale, Utah, that he appeared to have been kidnapped and a ransom had been requested.
The case followed a typical pattern for cyber-kidnapping, in which “kidnappers” tell a victim to isolate and provide pictures as if being held captive – photos that are then sent to the victim’s family to extort a payment. The victims comply under the belief their family will otherwise be harmed.
After analysing bank records, purchases and phone data in a days-long search, police became convinced he was isolating in a tent about 25 miles (40km) north in a large area near Brigham City.
“Due to the cold weather in Utah this time of year, we became additionally concerned for the victim’s safety in that he may freeze to death overnight,” the Riverdale police department said after he was found Sunday.
A sergeant hiking on foot up a mountainside discovered Kai’s tent – which had no heat source, only a heat blanket, a sleeping bag, limited food and water and several phones that were presumed to be used to carry out the cyber-kidnapping, the department said.
The detective “contacted the victim inside the tent and found he was alive but very cold and scared”.
After being rescued, Kai “requested a warm cheeseburger” and to speak to his family, which had paid $80,000 to bank accounts in China during the scam, according to Riverdale police.
Kai’s host family in Riverdale had initially been unaware he was missing, having heard him in the kitchen in the morning on the day of his disappearance.
Local police worked with the FBI, the US embassy in China and Chinese officials to find the missing teenager.
The Chinese embassy in Washington had advised its citizens living in the US to bolster safety awareness, take necessary precautions, and stay vigilant against virtual kidnapping and other forms of telecom and online fraud, a spokesperson said.
Cyber-kidnappers have been targeting foreign exchange students recently and, in particular, Chinese foreign exchange students, according to Riverdale police.