Kai Zhuang, a Chinese exchange student who went missing in Utah last week, was discovered safe on Sunday, December 31, 2023, in the mountains near Brigham City, where he was “alive but very cold and scared,” according to Riverdale City Police Chief Casey Warren in a press release.
Zhuang, a 17-year-old foreign exchange student, was believed to have been abducted after disappearing from his host family’s home in Riverdale, Utah, on Wednesday, December 27. On Friday, December 29, 2023, Zhuang’s parents, who live in China, received a ransom note and his picture.
What is cyber kidnapping?
In a press release issued shortly after his discovery, Riverdale police chief Warren stated that Kai Zhuang was the victim of an international “cyber kidnapping.” This is an extortion scheme in which virtual kidnappers use lies and threats to coerce victims into isolating themselves and taking photos that appear to show they are being held captive.
The images are then sent to the victim’s family, who are then forced to pay a ransom in a short period of time.
Kai’s family reportedly paid $80,000 after the “kidnappers” sent constant threatening messages, including photographs implying the exchange student was in danger.
Four days after Chinese exchange student Kai Zhuang vanished from his host family’s home, a detective discovered him “self-isolating” in a canyon near Brigham City on Sunday.
Riverdale police explained in a press release that Zhuang, a victim of cyber kidnapping, was forced into isolating himself in a remote location after virtual kidnappers threatened the safety of his family back in China.
“The kidnappers threaten the young foreign exchange students and their families, and they demand ransom. They tell them to isolate themselves and they monitor them through Facetime calls and/or Skype.”
Zhuang had been held captive by cyber kidnappers for eight days when he vanished, according to police. Zhuang was apprehended after police combed through bank and cell phone records and discovered unexplained camping equipment purchases. A recent encounter with Provo police, who intervened when he attempted to set up a campsite, was also discovered.
“The victim only wanted to speak to his family to ensure they were safe and requested a warm cheeseburger, both of which were accomplished on the way back to Riverdale PD.”
Chief Warren urged foreign exchange students not to fall victim to the extortion scheme and to contact the police.
“I want foreign exchange students to know they can trust the police to protect them and to work with police to ensure their safety as well as their family’s safety abroad.”
The investigation is still ongoing, according to the police, and the suspects in the case have yet to be identified.