Jagran English
Washington: The recent case of Kai Zhuang, a Chinese exchange student in Utah who was found safe after a cyber kidnapping experience, has shed light on a disturbing new trend: Cyber Kidnapping/ Virtual Abductions. This emerging crime, unlike traditional kidnappings, uses psychological manipulation and digital trickery to extort money from loved ones, even though the victim is never physically harmed.
Seventeen-year-old student Kai Zhuang was declared missing on December 28, 2023, after Riverdale Police in Utah were notified by his high school. The school informed authorities that Kai’s parents, who live in China, had reached out, expressing concern after receiving a photo suggesting their child had been held captive.
The Riverdale Police in a press release statement states: “On December 28* 0830 PM, Riverdale Police received a report of a kidnapping. Officers were contacted by the high school of the missing foreign exchange student. The high school reported to Riverdale Police that they were contacted by the victim’s parents in China.”
“The parents reported to school officials that they received a photograph of their child that would indicate he was abducted, and they requested a ransom. Officers responded to the residence of the victim who was staying with a host family in Riverdale, Utah. The host family was unaware he was missing. They reported he was home the night prior and they heard him in the early morning hours of December 28th. There was no evidence to suggest he was forcefully taken from the home in Riverdale,” the press release adds.
According to the reports, the victim was being manipulated by kidnappers since 20 December 2023. The victim’s family paid $80,000 US Dollars as ransom due to continuous threats from kidnappers.
The press release mentions: “Riverdale Police continued to investigate the report of the victim by speaking with the family by telephone in China. The family reported they had transferred approximately $80,000 US dollars to bank accounts in China due to continuous threats from the kidnappers. The family also provided the photograph of the victim and it appeared he was being held captive and was in danger.”
Kai was safely rescued due to the continuous efforts of Riverdale Police. He only wanted to talk to his family to tell them that he was safe and requested a cheeseburger. The victim was found without any heat source, limited food and water and many phones that were considered to be the source of cyber kidnapping.
