Police report that victims held in Myanmar’s scams returned to HK after families paid a ransom, 32-year-old beautician arrested

15th January 2025 – (Hong Kong) A 32-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with a scam network operating between Myanmar and Thailand, which has recently resurfaced and ensnared numerous victims. Authorities report that at least 28 Hong Kong residents have been lured into this fraudulent operation, with 12 individuals still unaccounted for.

The Undersecretary for Security, Michael Cheuk, led a delegation to Thailand to coordinate rescue efforts with local law enforcement after receiving reports of individuals being held against their will. Following his return to Hong Kong, he confirmed that 11 residents are currently imprisoned in border areas of Myanmar, while one is reportedly in Cambodia.

The arrested woman, who claimed to work as a beautician, is accused of enticing two young women, aged 21 and 23, whom she met in a Hong Kong bar. After promising them a free trip to Thailand and a lucrative opportunity to transport cash, the women found themselves in a perilous situation upon arrival. Their passports and phones were confiscated, and they were subsequently transported to a scam facility in Myanmar, where their families were demanded to pay a ransom of $28,000 for their release.

On 11th January, after the ransom was paid, the women were safely returned to Hong Kong. Police investigations revealed that the two individuals had reported their daughters missing shortly after their departure on December 27. What followed was a harrowing ordeal, with the families receiving alarming messages demanding the ransom for their safe return.

During a press conference held this afternoon, Superintendent Iu Wing-kan of the New Territories South Regional Crime Unit and Chief Inspector Yu Pok-hon provided details of the investigation, emphasising the need for vigilance regarding job offers that appear too good to be true. Many victims, drawn in through social media, are met with promises of high salaries and minimal experience required, only to find themselves trapped in dangerous circumstances.

The police, having gathered substantial evidence, are preparing to charge the arrested woman with conspiracy to defraud.

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