A 32-year-old woman was arrested by police on Wednesday on suspicion of luring two Hong Kong females to Southeast Asian countries and forcing them to commit fraud.
The two alleged victims have reportedly returned to the city after paying an unspecified ransom. The suspect will be charged with conspiracy to defraud, police said at a news conference on Wednesday afternoon.
Police said the woman under arrest, who claimed to be a beautician, is suspected of enticing the two women — aged 21 and 23 respectively — who she met at a bar on Dec 27 to go to Thailand, according to superintendent Iu Wing-kan of the New Territories South crime headquarters.
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The suspect impressed the two women with her generosity, treating them to meals and entertainment, which led to a friendship, said police. She also offered the two women an all-expenses-paid trip to Thailand, including free flights and hotel accommodation, and promised to provide well-paid jobs there, police added.
Upon arrival, the two women were deprived of their mobile phones and passports and taken to a scam farm in Myanmar, where they were held captive and forced to engage in scams.
Police said relatives of the two women were asked to pay a ransom of $28,000 for each of them in exchange for their release. Following the payment of a lesser amount, the two alleged victims safely returned to Hong Kong on Saturday, said police.
New Territories South Chief Inspector of Crime Yu Pok-hon cautioned that the public should not be deceived by advertisements for job opportunities, and be vigilant concerning complimentary travel offers that could potentially lead to perilous situations.
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Since 2024, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government has received reports of 28 residents being lured to Southeast Asian countries, among which 16 have safely returned to Hong Kong so far.
Contact the writer at atlasshao@chinadailyhk.com
