"Utah Police Rescue Exchange Student from Cyber Kidnapping, Issue Warning to Parents"

1 min read
Source: UPI News
"Utah Police Rescue Exchange Student from Cyber Kidnapping, Issue Warning to Parents"
Photo: UPI News
TL;DR

A 17-year-old Chinese exchange student, Kai Zhuang, was found alive in a tent in Utah after falling victim to a "cyber kidnapping" scheme. Believing his parents were in danger, he isolated himself as directed by cybercriminals, who then extorted $80,000 from his parents with a fake kidnapping photo. Zhuang was rescued in freezing conditions with no heat source, wanting only to confirm his family's safety and to eat a warm cheeseburger. The FBI and the Chinese Embassy are involved in tracking down the suspects of this growing scam targeting Chinese exchange students.

Share this article

Want the full story? Read the original reporting

Read on UPI News