"Chinese Student Rescued from 'Cyber Kidnapping' Ordeal in Utah Mountains"

Kai Zhuang, a Chinese exchange student, was the victim of a "cyber kidnapping" scam where his family in China paid $80,000 in ransom after receiving manipulated images and threats. Zhuang was instructed by scammers to isolate himself in the Utah wilderness, leading to a police search that eventually found him alive but distressed. This incident is part of a growing trend targeting foreign students, particularly from China, where scammers use isolation tactics and artificial intelligence to create convincing fake evidence of a kidnapping. The FBI and local law enforcement are aware of these scams, which have been on the radar since at least 2017, and are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any such incidents without paying ransoms.