(PETALING JAYA) A Universiry Malaya doctorate student from China has fallen prey to online scam and now in

Myawaddy, Myanmar.

Yang Chengwei, 26, from Shaanxi, China, promised to bring five Rolex watches to China from Thailand with a reward of RM9,900. (15,000 yuan)

When Yang was in Thailand, he was either knocked out or drugged before sending him to the scam syndicate in Myanmar.

Through WeChat , Yang contacted his friend Xiao, a Chinese national who is studying in Universiti Malaya to borrow RM33,000 ( 50,000 yuan) for his release on 7 Apr.

The syndicate also asked for RM152,000 ( 230,000 yuan) from Yang’s parents in China to free him.

The syndicate threatened Xiao, 20, from Chengdu that she would be tailed in Kuala Lumpur.

Xiao had lodged a police report and contacted the Embassy of China in Malaysia.

She contacted SinChew Daily to reveal her friend’s ordeal to alert others, especially students from China who are studying in Malaysia to be alert about such scam.

Xiao said she knew Yang, in a part time job that both were working together.

On 1 April, Yang told her that he would be flying to Thailand to pick up Rolex watches to bring back China. Yang said he would be rewarded with 15,000 yuan with free flight ticket to Thailand.

“I think the trip is risky and suggested Yang to fly back China directly,” she said.

However, Xiao said Yang needed the money and he had never been to Thailand.

Xiao said Yang regretted his move after he woke up in Myanmar.

Xiao said she saw Yang’s partial face through the video call and asked if she could borrow money from her parents for him.

Xiao also said Yang’s parents had also lodged a police report in China and did not pay ransom on the advise of the police.