York Police Searching for Suspect in Fake Kidnapping and Ransom Scam

York Regional Police are asking for the public’s help finding a suspect in a fake kidnapping and ransom scam involving a missing youth, who was later located.

Police say they are looking for a man between 18 and 25 years old who possibly uses the name Guan Yu Wu. He was last seen wearing a black hooded jacket and glasses. Police have released a photo of the suspect.

The victim received a call in January from an unknown individual who claimed to be from China, according to police. The caller said the youth had been implicated in a money laundering investigation and was told to contact Chinese police to clear his name. The victim was also advised to avoid Canadian police and cease communication with his family until the alleged investigation was finished.

The youth was told to meet with an alleged Chinese police representative on Feb. 2 at a commercial plaza. When the victim arrived, he was told by a man that he needed to be brought to a safe house in Mississauga until the investigation wrapped up.

The victim went with the man to a house that police say was later found to be an Airbnb rental.

The youth was contacted by an unknown person on Feb. 4 and told he could go home and the investigation was completed. The victim left the house and after arriving home notified York Regional Police. The youth was not injured in the incident, police said.

A police investigation found that a ransom demand had been made to the victim’s family, but it had not been paid.

York Regional Police said the scam appears to target young Chinese students who are newcomers to Canada. They said there were “several variations” of the scam, and the suspects use a “variety of lies or threats” to coerce the victim into cooperating and preventing them from contacting local police.

Police said they wanted to remind citizens, particularly students, to be aware of the scam.

“If a situation feels suspicious, trust your instincts. Do not be persuaded into providing personal information or payments by methods you are uncomfortable or unfamiliar with,” police said.

They also recommend calling companies or agencies directly to verify information.

Police have asked anyone with information to contact York Regional Police Homicide unit at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7865, or homicide@yrp.ca, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

Foreign Police Scam

It comes just over three months after RCMP in Burnaby, B.C., issued a warning about a fake foreign police scam.

RCMP said one victim lost about a million dollars in the scheme after being contacted by people claiming to be from a telephone company who said the victim was linked to a fraud investigation.

The victim was directed to a “foreign police station” and participated in a video conference in which she believed she was talking to police. She was even provided with her passport and driver’s licence numbers, making the fraudsters’ claims “more believable,” according to police.

The victim ended up making four transfers for a total of $1 million to “pay bail” and avoid having to travel overseas.

RCMP warned the public to be skeptical if someone they don’t know is looking for personal information or money.