‘Psychological torture’: Virtual kidnapping targets Chinese students
A YOUNG Sydney woman has found herself the victim of ‘virtual kidnapping’ — part of a criminal agency scam targeting students. She was forced to pose for photos stylised as though she had been kidnapped after being contacted by scammers who made her life hell.
Central Sydney
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A YOUNG international student has found herself the victim of a “virtual kidnapping” as part of a frightening scam targeting the Chinese community in Australia.
The Chinese woman, an international student and local resident in the Redfern police area command (PAC), was forced to pose for photos stylised as though she had been kidnapped after being contacted by scammers who threatened to cancel her Australian visa.
The complex and elaborate crime was tantamount to “psychological torture”, Redfern crime manager Despa Fitzgerald said.
In June the criminal agency called the woman, aged in her early 20s, and pretended to pass her onto the Beijing police, claiming she had been involved in a crime in China.
In order to stop her visa from being cancelled, she was required to send a significant sum of money to the agency. She was then made to buy make-up and a length of rope to create photos which looked as though she had been kidnapped.
The young woman was made to contact the agency every hour on the hour, apart from when she was sleeping.
“She was made to pose as being kidnapped and send through these photos to that particular so-called agency, which was allegedly set up overseas, and then her parents were being extorted as these so called kidnapping photos were sent to the parents,” Inspector Fitzgerald said.
The young woman’s parents also paid money to the agency before contacting the Chinese consulate in Australia out of fears for their daughter’s safety.
The consulate then contacted Redfern police.
The woman and her family were extorted out of tens of thousands of dollars as a result of the scam.
While this is the first instance of its kind within the Redfern PAC, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has received nearly 1700 reports about scams involving threats of arrest and extortion via fake kidnappings this year alone, with losses totalling $1.15 million.
“These scams are particularly nasty and worryingly we’re seeing a dramatic spike in the Chinese community being targeted,” ACCC Acting Chair Delia Rickard said in a statement last month.
A “cruel variation” of these scams were targeted at Chinese students in Australia, Ms Rickard said.
“The scammer again claim to student victims that they have been involved in criminal activity and threaten them, and even their family, with criminal sanctions unless they pretend they have been kidnapped, including by taking photos of themselves bound and gagged.”
Inspector Fitzgerald issued a warning to anyone contacted by an agency or individual in a similar fashion to contact or visit police, or the Chinese consulate if there are any issues with speaking with police.
It was important to be wary of who you are speaking to on the phone and to not provide personal details, she said.
Ms Rickard also said it was important for the Chinese community to be aware of how the scam works and to warn friends and family.
“If you’re ever called by someone making threats about arrest or deportation, it is a scam,” she said.
POLICE WARN ABOUT SCAM
“It’s very frightening to receive these calls and scammers use your fear against you so you’ll send them money or participate in a bogus kidnapping.
“Don’t fall for their threats. Instead, hang up the phone and report it to your local police.
“If you think the scammer has your bank account details, contact your bank immediately.”
Have you been the victim of a scam you want to bring to the attention of others? Contact editor@centralmag.com