Chinese student rescued from scammers in Thailand demanding $1M over porn, organ harvesting threat

The men, who lured her to Thailand, demanded eight million yuan (US$1.1 million), and threatened to release pornographic photos of her and sell her organs if the money was not paid.

The student, studying at the Australian National University, went missing for about a week before her rescue, as detailed in a recent report by the Southern Metropolis Daily.

She was deemed missing after failing to attend her mid-term tests and was absent from her dormitory from April 15.

Her mother in China reported receiving a call on April 17 from a man using her daughter's phone, demanding eight million yuan in "compensation."

He said that if the payment was not made, he would coerce the girl into appearing in pornographic videos and send her to Cambodia for organ harvesting.

Her parents reported the case to Chinese police.

At the same time, they found a fund that they had provided for the girl's studies in Australia had been repeatedly withdrawn and transferred to unknown recipients in Thailand.

In total, 7.5 million Thai baht (about US$204,000) had been transferred. The parents then sought assistance from the Crime Victim Assistance Association in Thailand, according to Thai daily newspaper Khaosod.

Khaosod reported that the 22-year-old student flew into Thailand on April 13.

The student took a coach from Laem Chabang to Ekkamai before catching a taxi to a hotel in Bangkok on April 20. Later that evening, she was taken by law enforcement for questioning.

The investigation revealed that the scam began around February, when the student started her studies in Australia.

Police said the men posed as a telecom company employee, a government official, and a police officer. They contacted her and claimed that she had sent illegal texts to others, which led someone to commit suicide.

They coerced her into signing a debt confirmation letter and instructed her to travel to Thailand to clear her criminal record.

Thai authorities confirmed that she was unharmed but remained shaken by the experience.

She returned to China on April 21 and plans to continue her studies in Australia once she feels emotionally ready.

Police are hunting for the suspects.