Virtual kidnap incidents continue police warn
Surrey, BC: The Lower Mainland District RCMP are reminding the public that virtual kidnapping incidents are continuing in light of three recent incidents.
The RCMP issued a news release in July warning the public about an extortion scheme that tricks victims into believing their loved ones have been kidnapped. Numerous victims reported being contacted by suspects claiming to be Chinese government officials. The victims were told they were implicated in crimes in China. The suspects then coerced the victims into a series of actions, warning if they didn’t cooperate, their families in China would be harmed. Simultaneously, families in China were contacted by the suspects who convinced them that their loved ones were being held against their will, which led to a demand for money. In each case, the suspects falsely claimed to be Chinese government officials.
On August 30, 2017, the RCMP announced the creation of a joint task force to address and coordinate information about the ongoing extortion. The RCMP launched a significant outreach strategy aimed at educating those who could be potential victims and there were no further incidents reported up until mid- October when the RCMP received three more reports.
Once again, the incidents appear to be targeting female Chinese nationals.
“The RCMP would like to remind the Chinese community that these automated calls are fraudulent”, says S/Sgt. Annie Linteau, Senior Media Relations Officer, BC RCMP. “Anyone who receives similar calls should not comply with any demands and hang-up immediately.”
The Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China wants Chinese students in Vancouver to know that, should any Chinese citizens be involved in any legal cases in China, the relevant legal documents will be mailed to them directly from Chinese diplomatic missions. No phone call will be made to verify any personal information, especially the personal banking information, the consulate says.
We urge anyone who receives similar calls to immediately report the incident to your local police department or RCMP detachment.
警方警告虚拟绑架案件仍持续发生
卑诗省素里市：低陆平原皇家骑警(RCMP)就近日三起案件提醒公众虚拟绑架案件仍有发生。
皇家骑警在7月的新闻发布上提醒公众有关欺骗被害人误信他们的家人被绑架的一种勒索方式。 多名被害者举报接到自称中国政府官员的嫌疑犯联系。被害者被告知他们与中国的犯罪案件有牵涉。然后嫌疑犯胁迫被害人做出一连串行动，威胁如果他们不合作，他们远在中国的家人将受到伤害。与此同时，嫌疑犯与在中国的家人联系，令他们相信他们的子女被挟持，之后索求赎金。在每一起案件中，嫌疑犯都冒称是中国政府官员。
2017年8月30日，皇家骑警(RCMP)宣布设立一个联合专案组负责统筹此一系列勒索的调查资料。皇家骑警(RCMP)大力推动外展服务策略教导那些可能成为被害者的人士，之后没有任何新的举报直至十月中旬皇家骑警(RCMP)又接到三起举报案件。
如同以往，上述案件似乎是针对中国籍女性。
卑诗省皇家骑警高级媒体关系官Annie Linteau 总警长说：“皇家骑警(RCMP)希望提醒华人社团这类自动电话留言信息是骗人的 ，任何人如果收到此类电话，不要按照他们的要求去做，应立即将电话挂断。”
中华人民共和国总领事馆告知在温哥华的中国学生，如有任何中国公民被卷入任何中国的法律案件，相关法律文件将会由中国外交机构直接邮寄给他们。不会打电话验证任何个人信息，特别是不会验证个人的银行信息，总领事馆宣告。
我们敦促任何接到此类电话或短讯的人立即联系当地警方或皇家骑警分局报告案件。