"Exchange Student Rescued in Utah Amid Rise in Cyber Kidnapping Cases"
TL;DR
A 17-year-old Chinese exchange student, Kai Zhuang, was found in a tent in the Utah wilderness after being the victim of a "cyber kidnapping" scam that led his parents to pay a US$80,000 ransom. He was discovered cold and scared but alive by a sergeant who had been searching the area. The scam involved convincing Kai to isolate himself and send staged photos to his family to simulate a kidnapping. Riverdale police, the FBI, the US embassy in China, and Chinese officials collaborated in the search and rescue operation. Cyber kidnappers have increasingly targeted Chinese foreign exchange students.
- Chinese student found in Utah woods after ‘cyber kidnapping’ scam South China Morning Post
- Kai Zhuang: Police in Utah say student feared kidnapped may be 'camping' BBC.com
- Exchange student found in Utah while police look for cyber kidnappers USA TODAY
- Expert warns about increasing cyber kidnappings after foreign exchange student targeted in Riverdale KUTV 2News
- Cyber-Kidnapped Exchange Student Found, Asks for Warm Burger The Daily Beast
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