Police investigating a reported abduction of a 16-year-old girl in Qujing, Yunnan Province, said it was a hoax designed to get an iPhone and some cash out of her parents. 

Officers said the parents of the girl, surnamed Zhang, reported what they thought was her kidnapping on Sunday after she had already been missing for nearly a week.

The shaken parents said the alleged kidnapper had sent a text to Zhang's cousin the day before demanding 50,000 yuan ($7820) and an iPhone5S as ransom.

Local police said they became suspicious when Zhang's cousin received another text message pushing for the smartphone but reducing the cash demand to 500 yuan.

With Zhang as their proxy, officers arranged a meeting place with the alleged kidnappers on Monday only to have their suspicions confirmed.

Zhang was taken into custody at the scene.

She later told police that she orchestrated the hoax because her parents would not buy her an iPhone.

Police decided not to press charges for faking an abduction and criticized Zhang for her behavior.

kunming.cn