'Virtual kidnappings' on the rise again

Over the shoulder view of young Asian woman receiving an incoming suspected call from unknown caller on her smartphone and rejecting the call at home. Device screen showing warning sign as detected by the network provider. Phone scam and fraud concept

A suspicious call Source: Getty / d3sign/Getty Images

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There are fresh reports of a scam targeting Chinese international students in Australia in a bid to extort money from them. In some cases victims have been so terrified they've staged their own kidnappings to encourage their families to pay.

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