Jail for attempted WeChat extortion

A man has been sentenced to three years and three months in jail for an attempted extortion using information gained from WeChat.

The man gathered information about his WeChat friend's family from his postings and attempted to extort 1.7 million yuan (US$253,266) by threatening to harm his family, the Xuhui District People's Court said on Tuesday.

The victim, surnamed Li, received a message about a "very important letter" delivered to his office on July 15 last year.

He found the sender was very familiar with his personal and family information — the writer could tell his growth experiences, economic condition, family members and even where his two kids were studying and when they would go to a summer camp.

The sender said his wife and children all suffered serious diseases and asked Li to give him 1.7 million yuan, or he would harm Li's family.

Li reported the threat to police the next day. 

Police officers checked surveillance video at Li's company and centered their inquiry on a suspicious man who was wearing a black cap and carrying a black backpack. 

After tracing the car he got into, police caught the man, surnamed You, near a hotel in Putuo District.

You confessed and told police he needed 1.7 million yuan to expand his company but had failed to get a loan from the bank. 

To get the money, he decided to extort a WeChat friend and targeted Li, who used to show a luxury car and house on his WeChat Moments.

Thinking of the Shanghai World Foreign Language Primary School tragedy in August last year, You considered using the children's safety to threaten Li.

As well as the jail sentence, You was fined 5,000 yuan, the court said.