Father in China told ‘bring 3 people’ to scam compound in exchange for son who went missing in Cambodia

Scam ring in Cambodia demands father trick three victims into going to compound in exchange for missing son

On Sunday (9 Nov), a Chinese father made a desperate online plea to find his 15-year-old son, who went missing three months ago and was later traced to Cambodia.

Shockingly, someone using the boy’s social media account demanded that the father lure three people to the scam compound in exchange for his son’s release.

Son leaves home without father’s approval

The father, Mr Guo (name transliterated), said his son had dropped out of school earlier this year and was staying with relatives in Linfen.

Hoping to motivate him, he and his wife decided to bring him along to work in Tianjin.

However, the teen, Wang (name transliterated), suddenly told his parents he was heading to Yunnan to “learn car repair” from an uncle.

He later sent a photo and location from Guangzhou before his phone went dead that same night, according to Chinese media outlet Jimu News.

Later, a police investigation revealed that Wang had flown to Nanning, Guangxi, on 8 Aug and arrived at the border of Pingxiang City on 9 Aug.

He changed vehicles three times during this period, the last being an unlicensed taxi with a fake license plate.

Message demands three people in exchange for son

Mr Guo said he has been checking his son’s account daily since his disappearance.

On 27 Aug, he noticed the account’s location had changed to Cambodia. Then on Monday (3 Nov), he received a message from someone using his son’s account.

The sender, suspected to be a member of a scam syndicate, told Mr Guo that he could only see his son again if he “brought three people” to the compound.

“Once you contact him, you have to get three people to come over for me,” the message read. “When the three people arrive, your son can go back.”

The person also threatened to “sell” the boy to Myanmar if Mr Guo failed to comply.

Mr Guo was also told to prepare RMB200,000 (S$36,600) in case he could not get people for the syndicate, or sell people for RMB50,000 (S$9,000) each if they were short of money.

Investigation underway, but no updates so far

In a heartbreaking plea for help, his wife recorded a video kneeling in tears, begging for netizens’ help in locating their son.

Local authorities are reportedly investigating the case, but so far, no new leads have surfaced.

The boy’s father continues to share updates online, hoping that someone might recognise his son or provide information that could bring him home safely.

Also read: South Korean woman found dead near Cambodia-Vietnam border, linked to voice phishing syndicate

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Featured image adapted from Jimu News via NetEase.