Chinese exchange student found in Utah mountains in suspected ‘cyber kidnapping’

A foreign exchange student has been found after being reported missing last week, according to local authorities.

The student, Kai Zhuang, had been staying with a host family in Riverdale, Utah at the time of the incident. Riverdale Police said they received a report of a kidnapping on Friday.

“Officers were contacted by the high school of the missing foreign exchange student,” a Sunday press release by Riverdale police read.

“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.”

Kai’s family told police that they transferred around $80,000 dollars “to bank accounts in China due to continuous threats from the kidnappers.”

Police said they believed Kai had been “isolating himself at the direction” of so-called “cyber kidnappers,” and that they were notified by the FBI about cases with similar backgrounds to Kai’s.

“Cyber kidnappers have been targeting foreign exchange students, in particular, Chinese foreign exchange students,” the release read. “The kidnappers threaten the young foreign exchange students and their family and they demand ransom. They tell the victims to isolate themselves and they monitor them through Facetime calls and or Skype.”

Kai was later found in a tent near Brigham City, Utah, “alive but very cold and scared,” authorities said. He had “no heat source” in the tent, but did have some food and water and a sleeping bag, among other items. 

“We want to inform the public in regard to cyber kidnapping, if you become a target of cyber kidnapping, please contact your local police department immediately,” the release read. “Do not send money, discontinue contact with the suspects, and contact police immediately.”