Chinese Livestreamer Suspected Abducted After Thailand Trip, Ransom Set at 600,000 Yuan
Chinese Livestreamer Suspected Abducted After Thailand Trip, Ransom Set at 600,000 Yuan
BEIJING, 21 September 2026 — A 24-year-old Chinese livestream shopping host has allegedly been kidnapped after travelling to Thailand, with her family reportedly being demanded to pay 600,000 yuan (about US$84,000) for her release, according to Chinese media.
Wang Ran, who was born in 2002 in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, previously worked as a livestream shopping host in Nanjing. Her family said she flew to Bangkok on September 12, after which they lost contact with her and later suspected that she had been taken from Thailand to Myanmar.
According to The Beijing News, Wang’s family subsequently received a ransom demand of 600,000 yuan.
During a video call with her relatives, Wang was reportedly seen appearing dazed and in a poorly maintained room. Her family said the surroundings appeared to be basic and that they later received information suggesting she could be in Myanmar.
The family reported the case to Chinese police. On September 20, personnel at the police station in the area where Wang had lived before her disappearance confirmed that they had received the report and said anti-fraud officers would contact the family to assist with the investigation.
Wang’s relatives also said the people demanding the ransom allegedly threatened to sell her to a “club” inside a scam compound if the family failed to raise the money. The claim was reported by Chinese media based on statements from Wang’s relatives and has not been independently verified.
The case has renewed concerns in China over cross-border trafficking and scam networks operating in parts of Southeast Asia. Chinese media have warned that criminal groups can use seemingly legitimate invitations involving tourism, business opportunities, advertising work or high-paying jobs to lure potential victims overseas.
The reported case also highlights the risks faced by young people who accept overseas travel invitations from people they know primarily through online platforms.
Chinese authorities have urged citizens to exercise caution when accepting overseas invitations from unfamiliar contacts and to independently verify the identity, location and background of anyone arranging or sponsoring such travel.
As of the latest reports, there has been no official confirmation that Wang Ran has been located or that she has definitively been taken to Myanmar. The investigation remains ongoing.
