http://www.cp24.com/news/scammers-f...manded-ransom-from-parents-in-china-1.3672292
Published Friday, November 10, 2017 11:57AM EST
Toronto police say they believe two Chinese students they first thought were missing persons are actually victims of a scam targeting their parents back in China.
Since Wednesday, police were made aware that two Chinese students studying in Toronto, Juanwen Zhang, 20, and Ke Jaden Xu, were reported missing to authorities.
After looking into the matter, investigators say they believe suspects contacted both students and told them to go into hiding and stay off their phones and social media, saying their families back in China would be in danger if they did not comply.
Police allege the suspects told family members of both students that they had been kidnapped and demanded a hefty ransom to secure their release.