CANBERRA, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- International students at Australian National University (ANU) are among those targeted by elaborate virtual kidnap scams, police have warned.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) issued a warning to international students about the scams at the start of the second semester.
"We've sought to reach out initially here in Canberra because we are aware there is an active environment in which ANU students are falling victims," the Canberra Times quoted Detective Senior Constable Mathew Tonge from the AFP's International Operations team as saying on Monday.
Victims of the scams receive phone calls from people, who tell them that their visa could be cancelled, they are implicated in a crime, they are wanted for tax avoidance or their personal information has been compromised.
Eventually they talk victims into cutting all contact with their family and friends and convince them to check into a hotel.
In the more extreme cases, the victims are even coaxed into taking staged abduction photos, which the scammers then use to demand ransoms from their family.
"Students may be from wealthy families back in China or (scammers) might send out a text or cold call at random," Tonge said.
"They build trust. They make the victim rely on them more and more. They make you think they are there to protect you," he added.
"The victim becomes effectively a virtual hostage even though they don't realise it themselves. This is organised crime."
This kidnap fraud first emerged in Canada about 18 months ago and has now reached Australia, including the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), police said.
Police urged the potential victims to talk with their friends and family or local authorities before following the advice and to look out for friends who suddenly withdraw or behave oddly.
