RIVERDALE, UT - Officials with the Riverdale Police Department (RPD) are warning residents about "cyber kidnapping" after a Chinese exchange student was found alone in a tent in the mountains of Utah in extremely cold weather conditions.
The exchange student, identified as 17-year-old Kai Zhang, was found after his parents aboard were reportedly extorted and threatened with his safety in a cyber kidnapping. According to the press release, the parents of Zhang were sent a photograph that allegedly showed him abducted and after receiving "continuous threats" from kidnappers, they sent $80,000 to bank accounts in China as a ransom.
The parents notified Zhang's high school, who then contacted the Riverdale Police on December 28th. After speaking with Zhang's host family in Riverdale, they said that he was home the night prior and had heard from him in the early morning hours of December 28th. However, they were completely unaware that he was missing. They said that there was no evidence suggesting he was forcibly taken from the home.
Riverdale police said that after working with the FBI, the U.S. embassy in China, and Chinese officials, they learned of the latest criminal trend called cyber kidnapping. This is when foreign exchange students, in particular those from China, are threatened and a ransom is demanded.
According to the police, the victims are ordered to then isolate themselves and are monitored via FaceTime or Skype by the cyber kidnappers. The victims are forced to take photos of themselves that make it appear that they are being held captive and the photos are then sent to their frightened parents. In Zhang's case, he was found "very cold and scared" in the tent up in the Utah mountains.
The kidnapping is technically conducted remotely, but victims allegedly often comply because they fear that their families will be harmed and parents are extorted for fear that the kidnappers are actually physically with the victim and therefore could cause them harm.
On December 20th, Zhang was found trying to go camping near Provo, Utah. Police over there were "concerned for his safety" and so they returned him to Riverdale. Riverdale police said that at that time, they believe Zhang was already being "manipulated and controlled" by "cyber kidnappers," but that he never disclosed that information to his host parents.
After Zhang went missing, police were not able to find the camping gear he had bought while out in Provo. Police conducted an analysis of his bank records and phone pings and figured out that he had visited the Brigham City canyon area.
Police said, "We believed the victim was isolating himself at the direction of cyber kidnappers in a tent. Due to the cold weather in Utah at this time of year, we became additionally concerned for the victim's safety in that he may freeze to death overnight."
With the help of Weber County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue Drone team, the search for Zhang continued into the day after the initial overnight search began. Zhang was found on Sunday, December 31st, in a wooded area by Riverdale police who hiked on foot up the mountainside near Brigham City.
Zhang was found inside of the tent. He was found alive, but very cold and scared. Police said, "The victim was relieved to see the police." He had no head inside the tent. All he had was a heated blanket, a sleeping bag, limited food and water, and several phones, which police presumed were to be "used to carry out the cyber kidnapping."
Zhang was checked by medical personnel and was cleared of any major medical concerns. Police said, "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."
The exchange student, identified as 17-year-old Kai Zhang, was found after his parents aboard were reportedly extorted and threatened with his safety in a cyber kidnapping. According to the press release, the parents of Zhang were sent a photograph that allegedly showed him abducted and after receiving "continuous threats" from kidnappers, they sent $80,000 to bank accounts in China as a ransom.
The parents notified Zhang's high school, who then contacted the Riverdale Police on December 28th. After speaking with Zhang's host family in Riverdale, they said that he was home the night prior and had heard from him in the early morning hours of December 28th. However, they were completely unaware that he was missing. They said that there was no evidence suggesting he was forcibly taken from the home.
Riverdale police said that after working with the FBI, the U.S. embassy in China, and Chinese officials, they learned of the latest criminal trend called cyber kidnapping. This is when foreign exchange students, in particular those from China, are threatened and a ransom is demanded.
According to the police, the victims are ordered to then isolate themselves and are monitored via FaceTime or Skype by the cyber kidnappers. The victims are forced to take photos of themselves that make it appear that they are being held captive and the photos are then sent to their frightened parents. In Zhang's case, he was found "very cold and scared" in the tent up in the Utah mountains.
The kidnapping is technically conducted remotely, but victims allegedly often comply because they fear that their families will be harmed and parents are extorted for fear that the kidnappers are actually physically with the victim and therefore could cause them harm.
On December 20th, Zhang was found trying to go camping near Provo, Utah. Police over there were "concerned for his safety" and so they returned him to Riverdale. Riverdale police said that at that time, they believe Zhang was already being "manipulated and controlled" by "cyber kidnappers," but that he never disclosed that information to his host parents.
After Zhang went missing, police were not able to find the camping gear he had bought while out in Provo. Police conducted an analysis of his bank records and phone pings and figured out that he had visited the Brigham City canyon area.
Police said, "We believed the victim was isolating himself at the direction of cyber kidnappers in a tent. Due to the cold weather in Utah at this time of year, we became additionally concerned for the victim's safety in that he may freeze to death overnight."
With the help of Weber County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue Drone team, the search for Zhang continued into the day after the initial overnight search began. Zhang was found on Sunday, December 31st, in a wooded area by Riverdale police who hiked on foot up the mountainside near Brigham City.
Zhang was found inside of the tent. He was found alive, but very cold and scared. Police said, "The victim was relieved to see the police." He had no head inside the tent. All he had was a heated blanket, a sleeping bag, limited food and water, and several phones, which police presumed were to be "used to carry out the cyber kidnapping."
Zhang was checked by medical personnel and was cleared of any major medical concerns. Police said, "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."
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