VICTORIA — Police in Victoria are warning the public, especially members of the Chinese community, about an elaborate extortion scheme known as virtual kidnapping. The statement says people from mainland China, usually here on student visas, are targeted with a phone call from someone speaking Mandarin or Cantonese. The person claims there’s either a warrant for their arrest in China or that Chinese police need their help with an investigation. As part of the scheme, the people are convinced to make a fake video saying they’ve been kidnapped and their family members back home are extorted for money. Victoria detectives say they’ve investigated several such cases where money is demanded from families, and in at least one case the criminals managed to get a substantial amount of cash.

Source: National Post December 24, 2019 22:41 UTC