- By Vikas Yadav
- Wed, 03 Jan 2024 08:39 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Kai Zhuang, a 17-year-old Chinese exchange student who went missing in Utah, US, was "cyber kidnapped", the authorities said. The boy was later found in a tent (25 miles from Riverdale) in a "very cold and scared" state, according to CGTN, an international media organisation. The boy was spotted living with a "host family".
Zhuang parents in China were asked for a ransom demand in the guise of portraying their son as abducted using an image. According to the media, they transferred roughly $80,000 (roughly Rs 66 lakh) to Chinese bank accounts. According to the authorities, "cyber kidnappers" target several students using the technique. These people inform the student that their family is in danger and share the same update about their child with their parents.
Cyber Kidnapping: What Is It?
Cyber kidnapping is a type of cybercrime in which bad actors control devices such as computers and more to demand a ransom to give back access and avoid releasing sensitive details. These cyber kidnappers can convince victims to click photos and create recordings that mimic the captive environments to deliver a sense of tension in the family. In Zhuang's case, he was tracked via purchases and the phone in his possession.
Cyber Kidnapping Safety Tips: Keep your devices secure and updated with the latest software and antivirus.(Image:Canva/Sergey Shulgin from Getty Images)
According to BBC, such victims have heard screaming on phones before the message of their family member being in danger floated. These scammers can "threaten to cause harm if [the victim] hang up or if try to contact anyone to frighten their targets into making rushed decisions...They will do anything to keep you on the phone," citing cybercrime specialist Marie-Helen Maras, the news outlet reported.
Cyber Kidnapping: How To Be Safe?
People must stay skeptical of messages from unknown sources that demand urgent action. You must report the matter to authorities first if any such demands are framed. If a family member claims to be in a captive state, try to establish communication via alternative means other than technology.
Plus, do not share personal details or media with such cybercriminals. Make sure to inform your family about such scams and other AI-driven frauds. Keep your devices secure and updated with the latest software and antivirus. If you have been captive in such a state, you can invent cheat codes to inform your family, which these scamsters will not know.
