Missing Chinese actor, 31, found in Myanmar, allegedly trafficked by scam group

Chinese actor Wang Xing, also known as Xing Xing, has been found safe by authorities after being reported missing near the Thai-Myanmar border since Jan. 3.

The 31-year-old had reportedly flown to Thailand after receiving a call from someone claiming to represent a Thai media company for a film shoot.

However, he subsequently lost contact with friends and family.

According to The Nation Thailand and the Bangkok Post, Thai police confirmed that Wang was safely transported back to Bangkok on Jan. 7.

Possibly scammed

At a press conference on the evening of Jan. 7, Thai national police inspector-general Pol General Thatchai Pitaneelaboot stated that no Thai nationals were involved in Wang’s disappearance.

Initial investigations revealed that Wang was contacted via the messaging app WeChat by a member of a Chinese gang posing as a representative of a prominent Thai entertainment company.

The individual persuaded Wang to travel to Thailand for a film project.

After arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport, Wang was taken by taxi to Mae Sot in Thailand’s Tak province, near the Myawaddy border with Myanmar, an area notorious for housing scam centres.

Realising he had been duped, Wang was reportedly too afraid to resist.

He was then transported to Myanmar via boat and forced to undergo two days of training to scam others using a chat programme.

Media attention on Wang’s disappearance intensified after a Weibo post was put on Jan. 5, apparently by his girlfriend, Jiajia.

She reported losing contact with him after he sent an SOS message to her.

He had reportedly continued to keep in touch with her right up until he reached Mae Sot.

Rescued

Thai authorities worked with authorities from Myanmar to locate Wang and successfully found him on Jan. 7.

According to Khaosod English, two locations were raided by authorities.

The first site held 10 Chinese nationals, while the second location contained 50 Chinese nationals.

Wang was found at the second site.

It is not known what happened to the others.

Head shaved but not injured

Wang arrived safely at Bangkok’s Don Mueang Airport on the evening of Jan. 7, accompanied by officials from Thailand’s Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, according to Thatchai.

Photos released by Thai police showed Wang with a shaved head.

A video of Wang speaking to a reporter was posted on Weibo, where he revealed that everyone at the scam centre had their heads shaved.

Thatchai confirmed that Wang was not assaulted or abused during his ordeal.

A large red mark seen on Wang's leg in photos after his rescue was confirmed to be a birthmark and not an injury, Khaosod English reported.

In an interview with Thai media, Wang, wearing a black mask, expressed gratitude to Thai officials for their assistance.

He also reassured the public, stating that Thailand is "very safe" and expressed a desire to visit the country again in the future.

Wang will reportedly be assisting with police investigations before heading back home to China.

Concern about impact on Thailand's tourism

The incident has sparked concerns about its potential impact on Thailand’s tourism sector.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra addressed these concerns on Jan. 7, having tasked the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society to monitor and manage online reactions to the case, according to Khaosod English.

“We must manage this situation effectively to prevent any impact on our tourism industry,” Shinawatra was quoted as saying.

“This isn’t just about tourism,” she noted.

She also highlighted broader concerns on technological security and transnational scam operations.

Other scam victims

Following the news of Wang’s ordeal, other Chinese actors have reported similar scam attempts.

Actor Deng You shared an article about Wang’s disappearance on Jan. 6 and recounted his own encounter with a similar scheme, Jimu News reported.

Deng claimed he was approached by someone named Yan Shiliu, who requested that he got his passport reissued in preparation for a future project.

Another actor, Xu Dajiu, posted a video on Weibo warning others to avoid falling for scams involving offers of film shoots in Bangkok.

He had taken the video at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport after he had "escaped" from those planning to hold him against his will and bring him to another location.

Xu claimed that victims of such scams were subsequently trafficked to Myanmar.

Top photos from Weibo