This footage was filmed and produced 31 December 2023.

In a harrowing ordeal, Kai Zhuang, a 17-year-old Chinese exchange student, was discovered alive but "cold and scared" in a tent in the Utah wilderness after falling victim to a cyber-kidnapping scam. The alarming incident unfolded when Kai was reported missing, and his parents in China received a ransom demand of $80,000.

The cyber-kidnapping followed a distressing pattern, with the perpetrators instructing Kai to isolate himself and sending photos as proof of captivity. Analyzing bank records and phone data, the police located him about 25 miles north of Riverdale, Utah. Concerned about the cold weather, authorities initiated a search that culminated in a sergeant finding Kai's tent on a mountainside.

The tent lacked a heat source, containing only a heat blanket, sleeping bag, limited food, and several phones used for the scam. Rescued but cold and frightened, Kai, who had received an $80,000 ransom from his family, expressed a desire for a warm cheeseburger and contact with his family. The incident underscores the rising threat of cyber-kidnapping, especially targeting foreign exchange students.