On January 21 2020, Wenbo Jin woke up just after 4 a.m. to the sounds of two men ransacking his apartment. The 24-year-old had left his home in China to study statistics at the University of Toronto. That night, Wenbo lay there, terrified, as his dream of higher education in Canada turned into a nightmare at the hands of criminals with a diabolical scheme.  This week on Crime Story, journalist Simon Lewsen takes us inside Wenbo Jin’s apartment and reveals the surprising reason kidnappers are targeting international students.  For ad-free listening to Crime Story, subscribe to <a href="https://apple.co/cbctruecrime" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CBC's True Crime channel on Apple Podcasts</a>. Feedback for us? You can email us directly at crimestory@cbc.ca.

On January 21 2020, Wenbo Jin woke up just after 4 a.m. to the sounds of two men ransacking his apartment. The 24-year-old had left his home in China to study statistics at the University of Toronto. That night, Wenbo lay there, terrified, as his dream of higher education in Canada turned into a nightmare at the hands of criminals with a diabolical scheme. This week on Crime Story, journalist Simon Lewsen takes us inside Wenbo Jin’s apartment and reveals the surprising reason kidnappers are targeting international students. For ad-free listening to Crime Story, subscribe to CBC's True Crime channel on Apple Podcasts. Feedback for us? You can email us directly at crimestory@cbc.ca.

On January 21 2020, Wenbo Jin woke up just after 4 a.m. to the sounds of two men ransacking his apartment. The 24-year-old had left his home in China to study statistics at the University of Toronto. That night, Wenbo lay there, terrified, as his dream of higher education in Canada turned into a nightmare at the hands of criminals with a diabolical scheme.&nbsp; This week on Crime Story, journalist Simon Lewsen takes us inside Wenbo Jin’s apartment and reveals the surprising reason kidnappers are targeting international students.&nbsp; For ad-free listening to Crime Story, subscribe to <a href="https://apple.co/cbctruecrime" rel="noopener noreferrer">CBC's True Crime channel on Apple Podcasts</a>. Feedback for us? You can email us directly at crimestory@cbc.ca.

The kidnapping of Wenbo Jin: Why international students are being held for ransom

This is true crime with journalistic integrity — and a curious, conversational edge. Every other Monday, Crime Story dives into gripping cases of every kind: from white-collar scandals and high-profile trials to under-the-radar stories you’ve never heard before. At the heart of each episode is a deep, intimate interview with someone who knows the case inside and out — the journalists, documentarians, and storytellers who’ve reported on these crimes, chased leads for years, and lost sleep uncovering the truth. Their insights cut through the noise, revealing not just what happened, but why it matters. Hosted by award-winning journalist Kathleen Goldhar — a true crime devotee with more than 20 years of experience and a track record of critically-acclaimed podcasts — the show blends sharp reporting with an authentic love for the genre.

True Crime

This is true crime with journalistic integrity — and a curious, conversational edge. Every other Monday, Crime Story dives into gripping cases of every kind: from white-collar scandals and high-profile trials to under-the-radar stories you’ve never heard before. At the heart of each episode is a deep, intimate interview with someone who knows the case inside and out — the journalists, documentarians, and storytellers who’ve reported on these crimes, chased leads for years, and lost sleep uncovering the truth. Their insights cut through the noise, revealing not just what happened, but why it matters. Hosted by award-winning journalist Kathleen Goldhar — a true crime devotee with more than 20 years of experience and a track record of critically-acclaimed podcasts — the show blends sharp reporting with an authentic love for the genre.

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The kidnapping of Wenbo Jin: Why international students are being held for ransom

The kidnapping of Wenbo Jin: Why international students are being held for ransom

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