Chinese Victims Lured From Thailand Into Myanmar Scam Compounds
On.cc · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago6 MIN
Summary
Reports of Chinese nationals being trafficked from Thailand into scam compounds in Myanmar have resurfaced in two separate cases published on Tuesday. A 38-year-old man from Sichuan said he was abducted after flying to Bangkok in June to settle a business payment in person, and was later rescued after his sister spent more than 50 days seeking help in Thailand. In another case, a female livestream sales host born in 2002 was allegedly tricked into travelling to Thailand on September 12 and then taken to Myanmar, where kidnappers demanded 600,000 yuan from her family.
Key Points
- Liu Xiuhong (劉修洪), 38, from Sichuan, said he returned to China more than 20 days ago after being missing for 79 days following a June trip to Bangkok.
- Liu said he flew to Bangkok to collect a business payment in person, but was then forcibly taken to a scam compound in Myanmar.
- He said people over 35 were harder to resell, that he was once sold in a “buy one, get one free” deal, and that he was repeatedly beaten.
- Liu said his knowledge of traditional Chinese medicine helped him assist others inside the compound, which reduced the beatings he suffered.
- His sister travelled alone to Thailand, dealt with local police and the embassy, and spent more than 300,000 yuan over 50-plus days to secure his rescue.
- In the second case, the report identified the victim as Wang Ran, a livestream sales host born in 2002. She was said to have been deceived into travelling to Thailand on September 12 before being kidnapped to Myanmar. During a video call, the abductors demanded 600,000 yuan from her family and threatened to sell her to a club inside a scam compound if the money was not paid. The report said the call showed Wang in a dazed condition in a bare setting.
- Wang's father reported the case to police in Nanjing, Jiangsu, and submitted relevant materials in person. Staff at the police station in the area where she had lived before losing contact said they had received the family’s report and would arrange for anti-fraud personnel to get in touch.
Why It Matters
The cases point to continuing risks for Chinese-speaking travellers who go to Thailand for tourism or business and are then allegedly moved across the border into Myanmar. For Hong Kong readers, the reports are a reminder that travel invitations, business settlements and online job or leisure offers can quickly turn into cross-border kidnapping and fraud-related detention.