A 19-year-old Russian woman was reportedly found injured and in a state of emotional distress at a supermarket car park in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai, Thailand, after allegedly being lured to a scam compound in Myanmar with the promise of a high-paying job.
The woman, identified as Mariia Tsygankova from Chelyabinsk, reportedly told Thai authorities that she was offered a monthly salary of US$3,000 (around RM12,700) by a female friend about two months ago.
Believing she had secured legitimate employment in Mandalay, Myanmar, Tsygankova travelled from Russia via China before flying to Thailand and subsequently making her way to Yangon and Mandalay.
However, she was allegedly taken to a scam compound in Tachileik, Myanmar, located near the Thai border, instead of being given the job she had been promised.
According to reports, Tsygankova was held inside a two-storey building near the Moei River and allegedly guarded by around eight men. She was reportedly ordered to use her appearance to lure victims into cryptocurrency investment scams, commonly associated with romance-based fraud schemes.
Tsygankova allegedly refused to participate, after which she claimed she was repeatedly assaulted. She was later found with multiple injuries and reportedly broke down in tears while speaking to authorities.
Her account of how she escaped remains unclear, with different reports offering different versions of events. Some reports said she managed to flee and swim across the Moei River into Thailand, while other accounts suggested she was taken across the border through an unofficial route and abandoned near a supermarket.
Thai media also reported that she may have been discovered after a local agricultural vehicle driver came across her and brought her to the supermarket area. As she was reportedly still traumatised, authorities have yet to establish the full circumstances surrounding her escape.
Thai police received a report at around 3.45pm on August 9 after the injured woman was found in section A3 of the supermarket car park. She was taken to hospital for treatment and later identified by authorities as a suspected victim of human trafficking.
Police reportedly decided not to pursue her for illegal entry and instead provided protection and assistance. The Russian Embassy in Thailand has also become involved and is reportedly arranging for her to be transferred to Bangkok before returning to Russia.
The case has once again highlighted the dangers surrounding overseas job offers promising unusually high salaries, particularly those involving poorly verified recruitment arrangements in parts of Southeast Asia.
Authorities have repeatedly warned potential jobseekers to verify overseas employment opportunities through legitimate channels and avoid relying solely on offers made by acquaintances or through social media.
