Missing Chinese exchange student found safe in Utah following cyber kidnapping scheme, police say

RIVERDALE, Utah — A foreign exchange student from China who was reported missing in Utah last week has been found in what authorities say was an apparent “cyber kidnapping” scheme to extort $80,000 from the student's family.

The 17-year-old student was reported missing Friday, a day after he was last seen at the home where he was staying in Riverdale, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) from Salt Lake City.

Riverdale police initially said they believed the student had been forcibly removed from his home. But on Sunday evening, they said he was found safe in a tent about 25 miles away from Riverdale in the Brigham City area.

According to the police, he was convinced that his family in China was being threatened and that he had to isolate himself. It is unclear how he received this information or why he isolated himself.

Meanwhile, his family had received a ransom note and a photo of the student proving that he had been kidnapped and was in danger. The family paid $80,000 in ransom before he was found.