China influencer lured to Cambodia with promise of 'high-paying job', later found homeless on the streets

A Chinese social media influencer was allegedly lured to Cambodia with the promise of a high-paying job, but later ended up homeless and was found wandering around the streets.

Photos widely circulated online

Citing Chinese media outlet Cover News, 8world reported that photos of the influencer, known online as Umi, had been widely circulated online.

In the photos, she appeared haggard and was seen holding an X-ray film. Her leg was also reportedly injured.

A photo of her passport was also shared, showing that the woman, whose name is Wu Mouzhen, is from China's Fujian province.

According to Cover News, a search of Wu's short-video account confirmed that it was registered in Cambodia. The account reportedly has around 26,000 followers, and there are a total of 12 videos, 11 of which were uploaded in Cambodia.

Parents confirmed that the woman in the photos is their daughter

Wu's parents later confirmed in an interview with Cover News that the woman in the viral images was their daughter, 8world reported.

Her mother said that Wu, who is only 20, had dropped out of school after high school to start working.

According to her father, the family lost contact with her on Dec. 26, 2025, and they had since filed a report with the local police, Global Times reported.

As she was away from home for most of the year, Wu reportedly only communicated with her family via messaging apps.

She also rarely shared details about her work or whereabouts.

Wu's mother said that they were first alerted to the photos of their daughter by their relatives, and they subsequently reported it to the police.

However, as the incident took place overseas, local police advised the family to seek assistance from the immigration authorities and the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia as it was out of their jurisdiction.

Found in a poor physical condition

According to 8world, embassy officials in Sihanoukville, a city in Cambodia, eventually found Wu at a local hospital on Jan. 3, 2026, where she was reportedly found in a poor physical condition.

She was later transferred to a better-equipped medical facility.

Wu reportedly told the officials that she had been lured to Cambodia with the promise of a high salary, but was later abandoned and forced to live on the streets.

In a statement, the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia said the woman was in extremely poor health when she was found, and that the embassy immediately arranged for her to be transferred to another hospital for treatment, Global Times reported.

Wu's condition has since reportedly improved, and the embassy has contacted her family to arrange her return to China.

The embassy once again reminded all Chinese nationals that many so-called overseas "high-paying recruitment" offers are linked to black and grey industries, including online gambling, telecom scams, pornography, and drugs.

"Once trapped in such industries, individuals are highly vulnerable to illegal detention, violent abuse and even life-threatening dangers," the statement read, urging citizens not to trust such offers or jeopardise their personal safety.

Top photos via China Press