A Chinese Tourist’s Harrowing Experience: From “Kidnapping” to Rescue in Bangkok Mall
In a shocking turn of events, a 27-year-old Chinese tourist, Ms. Lu Xinlei, was found safe and sound in a Bangkok mall after her family received a ransom demand of $932,000 from alleged kidnappers. The drama unfolded when Ms. Lu’s father received a message on Chinese messaging app WeChat, claiming that his daughter had been kidnapped and demanding a hefty ransom in exchange for her release.
The family was frantic, and a search was launched to locate Ms. Lu, who had been reported missing on June 7. However, investigations revealed that Ms. Lu had fallen prey to a sophisticated cyber kidnapping scam. The scammers, posing as Japanese authorities, had convinced Ms. Lu that she had violated an anti-money laundering law and needed to transfer 17 million yen (approximately $146,000) for examination.
The scammers then instructed Ms. Lu to depart Shanghai for either Thailand or Singapore, and to regularly change her SIM card and move to different hotels. Unbeknownst to her family, Ms. Lu had arrived in Thailand on June 5 and was following the scammers’ instructions.
Thai police finally tracked down Ms. Lu to a shopping mall in Bangkok’s Bang Na district on the evening of June 8. She was reunited with her mother and sister, who had flown in from China fearing the worst. A spokesperson for the Thai police assured the public that Ms. Lu was safe and unharmed, and that there was no real kidnapping involved.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of cyber scams and the importance of being vigilant when dealing with unsolicited messages or calls. It is also a testament to the swift action of the Thai authorities in resolving the situation and ensuring the safety of the tourist.
In recent times, there have been several cases of tourists falling prey to similar scams in Southeast Asia. This incident highlights the need for tourists to be aware of their surroundings and to verify the authenticity of messages or calls before taking any