A shocking twist has emerged in the case of Taiwanese businessman Ou Binghan, who was exposed by an influencer for allegedly running online scams. Reports have surfaced claiming that Ou fled to Cambodia, where he was allegedly kidnapped by a local gang and forced to kneel and plead for help in a video demanding NT$5 million (about S$285,000) in ransom.
The drama began when Taiwanese influencer Chou Shujing, who has over 27,000 followers, accused Ou of scamming her of a seven-figure sum in New Taiwan dollars. Chou said she had hired Ou’s company, Royal Imperial Technology Co., to handle marketing and counter online smear attacks — but his promises turned out to be empty. Instead, she later discovered that Ou was allegedly linked to a fraud network operating scam websites that even used the name of NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang to lure investors.
Influencer Claims She Was Scammed by “Marketing Guru”
Chou revealed that she first met Ou through a mutual contact after suffering from cyberattacks. Ou presented himself as a “digital marketing expert” who could remove negative content, handle advertising, and provide studio services. However, none of these services materialised. She eventually realised she had fallen victim to a sophisticated scam and decided to expose Ou online, calling him a “fraudster hiding behind a tech company.”
Shortly after the allegations surfaced, a video began circulating online showing Ou in distress. In the clip, the 43-year-old was seen wearing black clothes, with swollen facial injuries, handcuffed, and pleading for help. He claimed he had been kidnapped by a Cambodian gang that demanded NT$5 million for his release. Ou tearfully promised to “repay double” to anyone willing to help him.
Public Divided: Real Kidnapping or Another Scam?
While the video sparked concern, many Taiwanese netizens were sceptical — questioning whether the kidnapping was genuine or yet another scheme orchestrated by Ou to extract money from sympathisers. His history of deception and alleged involvement in fraudulent websites has led to speculation that the “ransom video” could be self-staged.
Despite doubts, local reports suggest that Cambodian authorities are aware of the incident and monitoring the situation. The video has also reignited discussions about Taiwanese fraud suspects fleeing to Southeast Asia, particularly Cambodia, to evade prosecution while continuing their illegal activities.
The incident serves as a stark reminder for the public to stay vigilant against online investment scams and fraudulent marketing companies. Whether Ou’s kidnapping is real or another elaborate ruse, the case highlights how scammers themselves can become entangled in the dangerous underworld they once exploited.