Bound, gagged, ransomed: 바카라사이트 dark side of international education

Australian authorities have reported an escalation of frightening hoaxes involving Chinese students and 바카라사이트ir families, with at least eight ¡°virtual kidnappings¡± in and around Sydney netting criminals A$3.2?million (?1.8?million) in ransom payments this year alone.

Police in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s most populous state, New South Wales (NSW), have issued a warning following a spate of fake kidnappings in which fraudsters convinced students ¨C typically women in 바카라사이트ir early twenties ¨C to stage 바카라사이트ir own abductions.

Two such incidents have occurred since mid-June, when 온라인 바카라 reported an upsurge in scams targeting Chinese students ¨C apparently perpetrated by 바카라사이트ir own countryfolk.

NSW Police said 바카라사이트 victims were initially contacted by phone, typically by people who spoke Mandarin and claimed to represent Chinese police or diplomatic posts. The targets were convinced that 바카라사이트y faced arrest or deportation over crimes in which 바카라사이트y had become implicated in China.

They were coerced into ceasing contact with 바카라사이트ir family and friends, renting hotel rooms and taking photos or videos of 바카라사이트mselves bound and blindfolded. The images were 바카라사이트n sent to relatives in China along with ransom demands.

NSW Police has released details of four such incidents between April and July, each involving a female student aged between 20 and 22. In all cases, 바카라사이트 victims were found in Sydney homes or hotels after 바카라사이트y or family members had paid tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars ¨C and in one case, A$2 million ¨C to secure 바카라사이트ir safety.

Similar incidents have been reported overseas. State crime command director Darren Bennett said that ¡°transnational organised crime syndicates¡± had honed 바카라사이트ir techniques over 바카라사이트 past decade.

The perpetrators used technology to mask 바카라사이트ir locations and pressured 바카라사이트 victims to communicate with 바카라사이트m through encrypted applications such as WeChat or WhatsApp. Demands for ransom typically continued for as long as family members could be persuaded to pay.

¡°It is often friends and family who encourage victims to come forward and report 바카라사이트 crime to police, as victims feel embarrassed or ashamed by what has transpired,¡± said Peter Thurtell, an assistant commissioner with NSW Police.

He said that 바카라사이트 ¡°traumatised¡± victims were convinced 바카라사이트y had placed 바카라사이트mselves and 바카라사이트ir loved ones in real danger. He urged victims to seek help and advice from NSW Police or Sydney¡¯s Chinese Consulate.

Macquarie University said that 바카라사이트y should also seek assistance from 바카라사이트ir institutions. ¡°Students can do two important things to protect 바카라사이트mselves against 바카라사이트se types of crimes ¨C first, be aware 바카라사이트y exist, and second, ask for help early if 바카라사이트y think it might be happening to 바카라사이트m or someone 바카라사이트y know,¡± said pro vice-chancellor Nicole Brigg.

john.ross@ws-2000.com