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The Star
7 days ago
- The Star
Chinese student in Myanmar scam freed after gang realises he has ‘bright future'
A student from northwestern China who was tricked into a scam in Myanmar was unexpectedly released after the gang learned he had a 'bright future'. Peng Yuxuan, 19, from Hanzhong City in Shaanxi province, had just retaken China's national college entrance exam known as the gaokao in June. His scores and intended university have not been disclosed. The Beijing News reported that Peng hoped to make some money over the summer holiday and went to Xi'an City with 800 yuan (US$110) from his family. He met a woman on a job-hunting app who claimed she was recruiting live-stream hosts. After telling Peng he was good-looking and could earn a lot, she offered to cover his travel expenses and flew him to Yunnan province in southwestern China. On July 1, Peng told his friend, Xiaojia, that he had arrived in Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan, and that the woman who recruited him had booked his hotel. He stayed in touch over the next few days, insisting he was 'safe and free' and could 'make big money'. He avoided explaining what the job was and asked Xiaojia not to tell his parents. Xiaojia said Peng was constantly on the move, sharing photos of meals and live locations. On July 4, Peng shared a final location from Meng'a Port, a major border crossing in Pu'er city in southwestern Yunnan near the Myanmar border, and then went silent. Days later, Peng's mother called him, but a stranger claiming to be from Myanmar picked up. Fearing her son had been trafficked, she alerted the police. The case attracted national attention in China and sparked a police investigation in coordination with the Myanmar authorities. According to Hongxing News, after arriving in Yunnan, Peng was transferred more than 10 times before ending up in a scam compound in Myanmar. Though Peng was not forced to carry out any scams, his head was shaved. Eventually, the ringleader approached him, noting that he was young and had just taken the gaokao . The boss said he had a 'bright future' and did not belong there. Peng said: 'He told me they make money with 'conscience', so they let me go. He also told me to study hard and be good to my parents.' It is unclear how the gang knew Peng had recently completed the national college entrance exam. Myanmar soldiers drove Peng out of the compound and told him to find help from the United Wa State Army (UWSA). After getting out of the car, he met a man who gave him food, and medicine, then took him to the UWSA Judicial Committee and contacted the Chinese authorities. 'When I realised I was rescued, I was so happy. I was finally going home,' said Peng. On July 20, the UWSA in Myanmar handed over 20 Chinese scam suspects and 29 rescued individuals to Chinese authorities at Meng'a Port. Peng was among them. The story has attracted more than 100 million views on social media. One online observer said: 'Peng was lucky in an unlucky situation. That fraud boss was not acting out of kindness. They were simply trying to make their crimes look less serious.' 'Young people need to stay alert, especially students with little social experience. There is no such thing as getting rich overnight,' said another. Northern Myanmar has become a hub for telecoms fraud, with the United Nations estimating in 2023 that around 120,000 people were trafficked to work in scam call centres. Crime rings lure young people from China and nearby countries with fake offers of well-paid jobs, then trap them using threats and violence.
Hindustan Times
01-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Company livestreams employees working from office during weekend, draws backlash
A Chinese company has invited criticism online after live-streaming footage of its staff working over the weekend, but employees say they're comfortable with the practice. According to South China Morning Post, the snack wholesaler Miaohuo Net, based in China's Zhengzhou, has been regularly broadcasting its office via an account on a popular short-form video platform. In one such live stream, around 15 employees were shown working through the weekend. According to the company's owner, surnamed Xing, the streams are meant to show that the company has a genuine in-house team, not one that outsources tasks. 'Some companies claim to have a team but actually outsource their work; we want to assure people that we are a legitimate company with a dedicated team,' Xing told Hongxing News on April 16. The company, which shifted from a traditional wholesaler to a live-streaming-led internet business last year, says the idea behind livestreaming its office is to build customer trust by showcasing a 'true and transparent' workplace. Miaohuo Net has 50 employees, though official records from 2023 indicate that only 13 have been enrolled in company-provided insurance, often seen as a rough indicator of the actual workforce. Xing said that his company offers all employees a two-day weekend. However, some employees choose to work over the weekend to earn overtime pay. Although the company officially offers two-day weekends, some employees voluntarily choose to work overtime to meet deadlines and are compensated accordingly, he said. Xing added that employees have not complained about being on camera during office hours. One employee, surnamed Duan, confirmed that he had no issue with the livestream, even though viewers have criticised it as an invasion of privacy. 'Many people live-stream at scenic spots when I visit those places too,' he said, adding that company benefits include overtime pay and annual trips for employees. Still, the approach has sparked concerns on social media over employee rights and privacy. Critics questioned whether staff can truly object to being filmed in a workplace where power dynamics may discourage dissent.
South China Morning Post
30-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
China firm live-streams employees at work to boost client trust, claims to have staff support
A Chinese company recently sparked online backlash by live-streaming its employees working in the office over the weekend, an initiative it claimed was aimed at enhancing customer trust. Advertisement The snack wholesaler, Miaohuo Net, based in Zhengzhou, located in central China's Henan province, has registered multiple accounts on a popular short video platform dedicated to showcasing both the company and its employees. On one such account, the company live-streamed around 15 employees working during a weekend. The company's owner, who goes by the surname Xing, told the Chinese media outlet Hongxing News on April 16 that this practice has been ongoing for some time, intended to demonstrate the company's 'true and transparent' workflow while boosting customer confidence. 'Some companies claim to have a team but actually outsource their work; we want to assure people that we are a legitimate company with a dedicated team,' Xing stated. Advertisement The company employs 50 workers, and public data from 2023 reveals that it has bought insurance for only 13 of them, which serves as an indicator of the actual number of employees.
