Hong Kong has escalated its response to city residents’ being abducted to work in telecom fraud compounds in Southeast Asia by deploying a special police task force to Thailand over the weekend.

Officials and lawmakers say the high-profile visit will help strengthen communication with Thai authorities and raise awareness about the dangers of enticing online job offers that have lured many victims.

The task force, led by Undersecretary for Security Michael Cheuk Hau-yip and comprising officials from the Hong Kong Police Force and the Immigration Department, left for Bangkok on Sunday night.

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They are set to meet with officials from the Chinese embassy, and Thai authorities such as the Anti Trafficking-in-Persons Committee, to exchange intelligence and coordinate rescue efforts.

Cheuk told media before departure that since the second quarter of 2024, there have been signs of a resurgence in scams that force Hong Kong residents into heavily guarded telecom scam operations in Southeast Asia.

In 2024, 28 Hong Kong residents reported falling victim to Southeast Asian compounds, with 16 having returned to Hong Kong.

Among the remaining 12 cases, some victims, aged 21 to 43, reported restrictions on their freedom of movement. However, they confirmed that they were safe and able to communicate with their families and the task force.

“Our goal is to ensure the safe return of all Hong Kong residents,” Cheuk said.

Victims of such schemes are often first promised lucrative jobs but end up having their passports confiscated and then being sold into forced labor.

Previously, the Immigration Department, a subdivision of the Security Bureau, has handled overseas assistance for such victims, but the formation of this task force signals an increased commitment from the bureau.

Legislator and former secretary for security Lai Tung-kok said that direct meetings with Thai officials could enhance case handling efficiency and communication.

However, he acknowledged that there is still no technological solutions to detect and alert public to such wrongdoings, as most scams are initiated through phone calls or social media.

He highlighted the need for public awareness regarding common scam tactics, particularly high-paying job advertisements.

The plight of Chinese mainland actor Wang Xing, who was lured into a telecom scam compound in Myanmar via Thailand, has cast a spotlight on these syndicates. Consequently, many Chinese tourists have canceled planned trips to Thailand, dealing a heavy blow to the country’s tourism sector.

Hong Kong singer Eason Chan Yik-shun has also canceled his coming concert in Thailand because of safety concerns for fans.

Lai believes that the attention on Wang’s case presents an opportunity to bolster anti-fraud education and prompt serious action from Thai authorities.

Cheuk said that new tactics involve hiring victims to help transport goods to seemingly safe destinations such as Taiwan and Japan, only to redirect them to Southeast Asia at the last moment.

He highlighted a shift in syndicate operations from Myanmar’s border with Laos to northern Thailand, warning Hong Kong residents to avoid traveling near the borders of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos.

Echoing Cheuk, lawmaker Gary Chan Hak-kan, chairman of the Legislative Council’s Panel on Security, attributed the recent spike in fraud cases to the evolving tactics of scammers.

He said that the syndicates once lured individuals mainly with conventional job offers in customer service, website maintenance, real estate sales, and marketing, but they are now burnishing the appeal by adding new roles such as those in cross-border e-commerce, cryptocurrency, and influencer marketing.

“The allure of lucrative overseas jobs can easily mislead eager job seekers into fraudulent schemes,” he said.

Chan said that anti-fraud campaigns and advancements in software have significantly reduced telefraud success rates on the mainland and urged the Hong Kong government to collaborate with mainland law enforcement on this front.

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He also suggested more online patrols of suspicious advertisements and posts, as well as launching awareness campaigns at airport to increase vigilance.

Speaking at a local event on Monday, Secretary for Security Chris Tang Ping-keung said that the government is deeply concerned about the 10 Hong Kong residents who have disappeared in Thailand, and said he is committed to helping them return home as soon as possible.

He said all reported a loss of personal freedom but remained safe. Most ended up in scam compounds as they sought high-paying job opportunities, rather than being abducted in Thailand.

Contact the writer at lilei@chinadailyhk.com