There are several ways that kidnappers and extortionists use social networks to identify and select their targets: 1. **Information collection**: Users on social networking platforms often share personal information, including name, location, job, hobbies, family members, etc. Kidnappers can use this information to understand the target's living conditions, financial ability, and potential vulnerabilities. 2. **Social relationship analysis**: By viewing the target's friends and social circles, kidnappers can assess the target's social status and interpersonal relationships and find suitable blackmail targets. For example, the target's friends or family may have higher financial ability, and kidnappers may be more inclined to target these people. 3. **Geolocation**: The geolocation function on social networks allows kidnappers to determine the target's real-time location or frequented places. This can help them make plans to kidnap at a specific time and place. 4. **Psychological profiling**: Kidnappers can understand the target's psychological state, living habits, and behavioral patterns by analyzing the target's social media dynamics and interactions, and thus choose targets that are more easily manipulated or intimidated. 5. **Monitoring dynamics**: Kidnappers can continue to pay attention to the target's social network dynamics, capture the target's life changes, travel plans, and major events, which can provide opportunities for committing crimes. 6. **Fake identities and contacts**: Kidnappers can use fake identities to establish contact with their targets, gradually gain their trust, and further seek opportunities to kidnap. To prevent these risks, users should be cautious about sharing personal information on social media, regularly check privacy settings, do not interact with strangers easily, and be wary of suspicious online behavior.