Victoria police are warning the public, especially members of the Chinese community, about an extortion scheme known as “virtual kidnapping” after a local woman was targeted.
Officers were called to investigate after a woman was reported missing Monday by her roommate. Evidence suggested the woman was being held against her will, and police were able to find her that night.
She was physically unharmed, but the case took an emotional toll on the victim while costing her family a “significant” amount of money, police said.
Several similar crimes have been carried out recently on the Lower Mainland.
Virtual kidnapping is often directed at women in their early 20s who are from mainland China and have come to Canada on a student visa. The process typically begins when a target receives a call from someone claiming to be from the Chinese consulate, the Chinese government or the Chinese police.
She is then told that there is a warrant for her arrest in China or that the Chinese police need her help with an investigation.
“They’re very convincing and they’re able to manipulate somebody by using their loyalty to their own country,” said Victoria police Det. Andre Almeida.
He said the method used is similar to those in the Canadian Revenue Agency scam or in romance scams, where people are misled by fraud artists.
“The suspects eventually convince the victim to make fake videos indicating that they’ve been kidnapped, or the victim of another crime,” Almeida said. “And then they also convince them to provide access to any of their social accounts, including their passwords.”
That allows the criminals to access the accounts and email videos that appear to be coming from victims themselves.
“They’re using these videos against them by sending them to their families in other countries.”
The victim is told to go to a motel or a short-term rental unit to hide from Canadian police.
Almeida said the people behind such frauds can be from anywhere in the world. “That’s what makes it difficult from a policing side.”
He said the best way to avoid being a victim of this scam is to reach out to local police.
Education is also important, he said, adding that the police have been working with the Inter-Cultural Association to get information out.
Further, no one can be arrested by the Chinese government or Chinese police while in Canada, and no Canadian or Chinese authorities would ask anyone to make a video about a crime that never happened.
The Victoria police can be contacted by anyone with concerns at 250-995-7654.
