China warns citizens of job scams, abductions in Thailand

BANGKOK — The Chinese Embassy in Thailand has warned its citizens of cases involving people who went missing after entering Thailand, were allegedly held against their will and were lured to the Thai-Myanmar border.

In a safety advisory, the embassy said criminal groups used high-paying job offers, business trips, investment opportunities and entertainment invitations to lure Chinese nationals to Thailand. It also warned of scams targeting livestreamers and performers through fake filming and performance offers.

The embassy urged Chinese citizens to verify overseas job offers and investment projects, use legitimate transport services and exercise caution when accepting rides or invitations from others.

Travellers were advised to be wary of unusually high salaries, vague job descriptions and promises of guaranteed investment returns. The embassy also cautioned against unnecessary travel to high-risk areas near the Thai-Myanmar border.

Chinese nationals were encouraged to share their itineraries with family members, keep their phones accessible and avoid handing over passports or bank cards to others.

Anyone whose freedom of movement is restricted or who is asked to travel to an unfamiliar location should seek help from Thai police and contact Chinese diplomatic missions. Relatives of missing people should report cases promptly and provide police with identification details, travel records and last known locations.