Cyber kidnapping is becoming a growing concern in several regions, especially in the US. Many incidents have been reported recently. However, you can reduce the risk of falling victim to cyber kidnapping by following cybersecurity practices. Read to know more.
Cyber kidnapping is a new criminal trend that involves scammers extorting vulnerable victims remotely, demanding ransom money from their families. The one who recently became the victim is a 17-year-old exchange student Kai Zhuang from China who faced a harrowing experience of cyber kidnapping in the United States. the scammers threatened him asking him to abide by their demands or they would hurt his family in China.
Zhuang’s family in China was disturbed when they saw pictures hinting that he might have been kidnapped. They told his school in Utah. However, the host family whom he was staying within the US had already seen him and was unaware of any kidnapping. The scammers scared Zhuang’s family for a month, paying them $80,000 to a Chinese bank. Luckily, the Riverdale police saved Zhuang from the woods, where he was made to stay alone.
What is cyber kidnapping?
Similar to other online frauds, cyber kidnapping is a growing digital crime. Attackers target victims, forcing them into isolation and extorting money from their families. Through video chat and manipulated photos, scammers create the illusion of a kidnapping, hence putting the victim under psychological pressure. The scammers even use artificial intelligence tools to mimic the victim’s voice. Those who are more susceptible to such crimes are foreign exchange students, particularly those from China.
How can you protect yourself from cyber kidnapping?
Firstly cease all communication if you ever receive contact from a cyber kidnapper and make sure to notify the police promptly. Additionally, never send any money to the perpetrators. As with scams and phishing, awareness is crucial for preventing cyber crimes to keep yourself safe. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency from The United States recommends the following measures to safeguard against cyber kidnapping:
1. Use additional security apps and multi-factor authentication to protect your sensitive information.
2. Immediately report any contact from a cyber kidnapper to the police and cease communication.
3. Resist the urge to send money to perpetrators.
4. Update your software regularly and add malware protection to your devices.
5. Do not click on any suspicious pop-up ads or links sent in emails from untrusted sources.
6. Use strong passwords to protect your accounts from hackers
7. Do not share confidential information with anyone. Also, use a password manager to keep things organized.
