Four residents still detained abroad in work fraud schemes

Four of the five victims of fraudulent work schemes are still detained by authorities in the regions where they were forced to work and have not yet returned to Macau, according to a statement from the Office of the Secretary for Security.

Between September and December of 2024, five locals were coerced into working in fraud centers after being lured by false job offers promising high salaries and minimal qualification requirements.

Among the five victims, most were young people who are either unemployed or lack stable jobs, with one of them being a student.

According to the police, some individuals were aware that their prospective work might be illegal but chose to overlook the risks in pursuit of easy profits, ultimately falling prey to kidnappers or being detained in foreign countries.

In January, the Judiciary Police (PJ) intervened to prevent a resident from accepting a fraudulent job offer abroad.

Wong Sio Chak, Secretary for Security, said that it is common for these criminal organizations to cover victims’ travel expenses to build trust. Therefore, the Secretary warns that any job offer abroad promising high salaries with few requirements is likely a scam.

Additionally, Wong emphasized that the issue gained more attention after Thai police announced the rescue of Chinese actor Wang Xing last month.

After being kidnapped, the actor was taken to Myanmar, where he, like many other Chinese nationals, was coerced into working in a fraud operation.

Thai authorities reported on Saturday that they had apprehended 10 Chinese individuals connected to this case.

Staff Reporter