Auckland Chinese student targeted in virtual kidnapping fraud scam

New Zealand Police are warning the Chinese community about a virtual kidnapping scam after police learned of a case in Auckland.

In the scam, foreign students are asked to fake their own kidnapping and trick friends and family abroad into paying ransoms.

Detective Sergeant Bridget Doell said police are investigating a report, made last Friday, in which a person is believed to have unknowingly participated in a bogus kidnapping fraud scam.

“The police are aware that this type of scam occurs abroad and has been previously reported in New Zealand,” said Doell.

In Australia last month, the New South Wales police said eight such incidents were reported this year, involving a total payment of A $ 3.2 million ($ 3.4 million).

Scammers call potential victims pretending to be Chinese officials and warn them that they are involved in a crime in China.

To avoid arrest, deportation, or legal action, victims must pay a fee.

The victims are then asked to cut off all contact with friends and family for a few days, rent a hotel room and take photos or video recordings of themselves blindfolded and tied up.

These images and footage are then sent to his family and friends abroad, usually via WeChat, to lobby to pay the ransom.

“The police are asking the community to be warned and vigilant against this type of scam,” said Doell.

“The police take these scams seriously and we will not tolerate fraudulent activities directed at our community.”

In Australia, parents of victims in China reportedly sent large ransom payments when they are unable to establish contact with their children in exchange for their “release.”

The ransom payments had ranged from A $ 20,000 to A $ 500,000 and in one case A $ 2 million was paid, police said.

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A caregiver for international students here, who did not want to be named, said border closures have made parents abroad “easy targets.”

“Scammers know that their parents cannot just catch the next flight and get to New Zealand to see how their children are doing due to Covid restrictions,” he said.

“They take advantage of parents’ anxiety about being separated from their children during the pandemic, and that makes them easy targets for scammers.”

Doell said that people should not answer the phone or respond to WeChat messages if they do not know the person or suspect that they may be a scammer.

“Do not follow or participate in the directions of strangers or scammers for any reason. Stop and think. Hang up and immediately report your family and local police,” he said.

Doell also advised against providing personal data, such as date of birth, password, bank details or phone numbers to any person or institution by phone or on social media.

“No government agency will ask you for these details over the phone or WeChat,” Doell added.

China is the largest source country for international students to New Zealand, but since the border closure, there are now around 13,000 Chinese study visa holders here.