Virtual Kidnapping: Online Scams with ‘Asian Characteristics’ During the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic changed how we went about our lives with constraints imposed on how we lived, worked and learned. The greater reliance on home-based connectivity also gave cybercriminals an opportunity to expand their activities. Reports show that there was a considerable increase in online scam cases with new ways of online scamming emerging. While most types of scams are universal, there are some types of scams that target people with specific cultural and social backgrounds. Virtual kidnapping, although not new, is an example of this with lockdowns and travel bans creating additional opportunities for it to occur. This chapter examines how the COVID-19 pandemic facilitated virtual kidnapping of international students. It considers the role played by ‘Asian characteristics’ that make Asian students, especially Chinese students, suitable targets. It then discusses these opportunities and challenges within a criminological framework and proposes potential solutions.