A case recently confirmed by the Chinese Embassy in Bangkok has once again sounded the alarm about the sophisticated labor fraud and human trafficking that is rampant in Southeast Asia. The latest victim, a 23-year-old male model surnamed Zhong (some newspapers reported as Zhong Haobin), was fortunately rescued after mysteriously disappearing in Thailand, becoming a clear demonstration of the potential risks behind the alluring invitations of "easy work, high salary".
According to the Chinese Embassy, Zhong had been out of contact with his family and friends since early June, after he accepted an invitation to travel to Thailand for a magazine cover shoot. However, instead of a dream career opportunity, Zhong’s trip turned into a nightmare when he was tricked into going to Myanmar.
Male model is believed to be missing in China
Chinese media quickly reported the case, stating that Zhong had been forced to travel to an area in Myanmar – a country known for its human trafficking rings and notorious online scam syndicates. Zhong’s disappearance was discovered when his sister received a suspicious call from her brother, saying he was at an unknown location in Myanmar. Zhong’s sister immediately reported the case to the police in Guangzhou (China) and Bangkok (Thailand), opening a joint investigation between the parties.
Media reports say Zhong was forced to travel to an area in Myanmar – a country notorious for human trafficking rings.
While the Chinese Embassy did not release specific details about the rescue operation, it confirmed that it was the result of close coordination between multiple authorities. At the same time, the agency also reiterated its stern warning to Chinese citizens about overseas jobs that promise “high salaries, easy work” but pose numerous risks. The embassy also noted that Thailand has clear regulations requiring foreign nationals to have a legal work permit to work in the country, a requirement that is often overlooked by scammers.
Royal Thai Police Inspector General asks officials to check people entering the country
The warning is not without foundation. The United Nations has reported that criminal networks have trafficked hundreds of thousands of people to smuggling complexes across Southeast Asia, particularly along the Thai-Myanmar border, including Myawaddy (in Karen State, southeast Myanmar), a major trade crossing. These smuggling centers are often not located in the heart of the city, but hidden in remote villages and towns, where victims are forced to work in illegal operations ranging from online fraud to other illegal activities.
Zhong’s case echoes a series of similar scams that have attracted international attention. In January, a 31-year-old Chinese actor was tricked into filming in Thailand, only to be kidnapped and taken to an online scam complex in Myanmar, before being rescued by Thai police. Earlier, 21-year-old model Yang Zheqi was also a victim of a similar kidnapping and was lucky to be freed.
These consecutive incidents have caused significant impacts on the Thai tourism industry, which considers China as one of the most important source markets. Statistics for the first 6 months of 2025 show a worrying picture: a total of 16,685,466 international tourists visited Thailand, down 4.66% compared to the same period last year. Notably, the number of Chinese tourists has decreased significantly by 34.13%, to only 2,265,556 people. This decline has caused China to fall to 2nd place, giving way to Malaysia with 2,299,897 visitors (although also down 5.58%).
These consecutive incidents have greatly affected tourism in Thailand.
Mr. Sisdivachr Cheewaratanaporn, Honorary President and Senior Advisor of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), estimated that the number of Chinese tourists to Thailand in 2025 could reach only about 5 million. This figure is much lower than the previous target set by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) of 6.9 million visitors and also lower than the 6.7 million Chinese tourists to Thailand in 2024. Mr. Sisdivachr emphasized: "If we market and stimulate effectively, Thailand can welcome 6 million Chinese tourists. But that number is still lower than in 2024."
A large number of Chinese tourists are no longer interested in this country.
In light of this, following the Wang Jing incident, China and Thailand have agreed to set up a coordination center in Bangkok to strengthen cooperation in investigating and combating fraud centers. The visit by Chinese investigators, which comes after the latest fraud case targeting Zhong, shows the determination of both countries to protect citizens and maintain a safe travel environment.
The “high-paying job” scams that result in victims being kidnapped and sold to fraud centers along the Thai-Myanmar border are a major challenge, not only affecting personal security but also having a profound impact on the region’s tourism and economic image.
