Police say 'virtual kidnapping' scams targeting international Chinese students in Sydney are on the rise and having serious financial and psychological effects.
There have been four cases across the state in the past month, with those targeted — ranging in age from 17 to 23 — ordered to pay sums of up to $280,000 or face being deported.
As it escalates, they are forced by scammers to fake their own kidnappings. The pictures are then sent to their families and are used to demand a ransom for their safe release.
"It is disgraceful there are scammers out there preying on international students who have come to Australia to study," Detective Superintendent Joe Doueihi said.
"Most of whom are living in a new country and far away from loved ones for the first time in their lives."
In total, more than $750,000 has been demanded in the latest wave of incidents, and to date victims or their families have paid between $170,000 to $270,000.
The organised crime is occurring both interstate and overseas, netting millions of dollars around the world.
Police fear the return of international students to Australia after the pandemic is driving the resurgence.
"We attribute that to COVID being over, international students are now travelling again and they're coming into the country," Detective Superintendent Doueihi said.
"We saw a number of these scam offences in 2020 however, due to a significant media campaign and the reduction of the number of Chinese students coming to Australia because of COVID we haven't seen any offences for the past two years."
The elaborate crime starts with students receiving a cold call from someone speaking Mandarin, claiming to be a representative of a Chinese authority, such as the embassy, consulate, or police.
They are told they have been implicated in a crime and must pay large amounts of money or cryptocurrency into offshore Chinese bank accounts to avoid being deported or arrested.
"They absolutely convince them and psychologically trick them into believing that they will be arrested, their families will be harmed if they don't comply with their requests," Detective Superintendent Doueihi said.
Chinese representatives have made assurances that no official or law enforcement officer would never contact a Chinese student and demand money from them or their families.
The scams, which can last a number of days, then escalate to the victim being forced to fake their own kidnapping and send pictures to their families demanding a ransom for their safe release.
"Families in China legitimately believe that their loved ones are in danger and have been kidnapped, and on occasions have paid large sums of ransom to these people," Detective Superintendent Doueihi said.
A number of the recent victims were hospitalised because of the trauma they endured.
The scam knows no bounds, according to Chinese Embassy police liaison officer Zhang Zhengping.
"It does not discriminate. It happens across all ages, genders and all socio-economic levels," Mr Zhengping said.
He said Chinese and Australian police are cooperating closely to crack down on the networks behind it.
Vice-consul for the Chinese Consulate General Xiaoteng Li said it is important their students feel safe in Australia.
"The victims not only suffered high financial losses but also huge psychological stress," Mr Li said.
Police are urging anyone who has been implicated to contact authorities.
