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Edith Mao

A Chinese model from the southern province of Guangdong has been rescued from Myanmar after he was lured under the pretext of an overseas job last month, according to the Chinese embassy in Thailand.
“The Chinese citizen surnamed Zhong has been rescued under the collaborative efforts of all parties,” the embassy said in a statement on Friday.
“We once again warn Chinese citizens to beware of overseas ‘high-paying job’ scams. Foreign nationals need proper work permits for employment in Thailand.”
After landing at Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok early on June 9, Zhong, who had travelled to Thailand supposedly to shoot a magazine cover, went missing, state broadcaster CCTV reported.


The 25-year-old had accepted a job offer from his former employer, who had claimed the work was in Thailand.
On June 13, Zhong made a video call to his sister and said he had been tricked into going to Myanmar.
On the morning of July 3, his sister posted details of the incident on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, sharing their chat history and Zhong’s travel information in the hope of getting help and raising public awareness about her brother’s plight.
Zhong’s sister said his exact location was not revealed and he was apparently under surveillance. She said contact was lost after the June 13 call in which her brother appeared frightened.

She said she had immediately reported the matter to the police and had travelled to Thailand to get help from local police and the Chinese embassy. Police in both countries investigated.
Telecoms fraud in several Southeast Asian countries is an increasing problem, with many people, including those from China, lured abroad through offers of overseas travel or high-paying jobs in recent years.
Victims are tricked into going to Thailand, Laos and neighbouring countries before being trafficked into compounds in Myanmar where they disappear.
In January, Chinese actor Wang Xing was kidnapped and sent to a Myanmar compound after being lured with the promise of filming in Thailand. His girlfriend quickly pieced together his timeline and posted it on Weibo seeking help, ultimately leading to his rescue.


The Civil Society Network for Human Trafficking Victims Assistance, a Thailand-based non-governmental organisation, estimates that at least 6,000 victims from 21 countries – including nearly 4,000 Chinese citizens – are being held in Myawaddy, southern Myanmar, by gangs.
The United Nations Human Rights Office reported in 2023 that at least 120,000 people across Myanmar might have been forced into online scams via transit points in countries such as Thailand, Laos and the Philippines.


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A Chinese male model named Zhong, from Guangdong province, has been rescued after being lured into Myanmar for an overseas work opportunity last month, according to the Chinese embassy in Thailand. Photo: Sina

Zhong’s sister shared information about her brother on Weibo and flew to Thailand to help secure his rescue from Myanmar. Photos: Sina

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Tourists pose in front of an inflatable artwork in Bangkok, Thailand, on July 3. Photo: EPA

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A recent UN report estimated that cyber-enabled fraud cost East and Southeast Asia nearly US$40 billion in 2023. Photo: Shutterstock

Multinational victims of scam centres, who were tricked or trafficked into working in Myanmar, stand on a vessel floating towards the Thai side of the border in Phop Phra district, Tak province, Thailand, in February. Photo: Reuters

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News

China

Diplomacy

25-year-old missing since June 9 was rescued on Friday, prompting new warning from Chinese embassy in Thailand about high-paying job offers


25-year-old missing since June 9 was rescued on Friday, prompting new warning from Chinese embassy in Thailand about high-paying job offers.


Chinese model lured to Myanmar with scam job rescued after sister raises alarm in Thailand

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}25-year-old missing since June 9 was rescued on Friday, prompting new warning from Chinese embassy in Thailand about high-paying job offers

25-year-old missing since June 9 was rescued on Friday, prompting new warning from Chinese embassy in Thailand about high-paying job offers