In light of recent disappearances and murders of female victims, Chinese judges advised female university students to avoid posting or giving personal data online.
On Oct. 21, the Supreme People's Court exposed seven different cases of internet-related crimes against women. The cases include women being conned, kidnapped, raped and even murdered by friends that they met online. The judges want more people to be informed of the possible consequences of trusting strangers on the internet.
"All convicts in these cases took advantage of the internet, making use of the trust established online to commit their crimes," said deputy chief judge Yan Maokun of the Supreme People's Court Criminal Department.
The chief judge said that, with the rise in popularity of instant messaging applications, internet-related crimes have also increased.
Three suspects in the mentioned seven cases were found guilty and sentenced to death for kidnapping, murder and rape.
Xiao Kechen, a suspect from the Guangdong Province, was sentenced to 14 years for raping a 15-year-old that he met on WeChat. Xiao also robbed the girl, taking 20,000 yuan and her mobile phone.
One judge from the department advised female students on what they could do to stay safe online. Judge Ran Rong recommended that females should always keep their friends and families updated whenever they travel alone or during emergencies.
"A young woman can take a picture of a taxi license plate and send it back to her parents via WeChat if she has to go out alone," said Ran.