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A family in Henan Province recently received a glimmer of hope after two months of silence from their missing son, Li Gao, a 20-year-old college student studying in Liaoning. In an unexpected video call, Li briefly reconnected with his sister, claiming he was in Cambodia and assuring his family of his safety. However, his vague responses and abrupt disconnection have left his family more anxious and uncertain.
The troubling situation began at the start of the academic term in August. Facing heavy financial burdens due to both his mother’s recent cancer diagnosis and his father’s illness, Li decided to delay his return to school. Instead, he sought work to support his family without informing them, hoping to alleviate their financial struggles. His journey led him across multiple cities, including Shenyang, Kunming, and finally to Simao in Yunnan Province, where his family lost all contact with him on September 1.
Li’s family reported his disappearance to local authorities, who eventually traced his movements through transportation records and CCTV footage. Despite the extensive search efforts, Li’s trail went cold in Yunnan, and authorities feared he might have been deceived into crossing the border into Myanmar, a hotspot for human trafficking and forced labor schemes targeting Chinese nationals.
On the night of November 7, Li’s sister received a video call from a new account, showing Li’s face. He claimed he was in Cambodia, and while he assured her of his safety, he revealed that he had been kept in a dark, isolated room. The conversation lasted less than two minutes, with Li repeatedly avoiding specific details about his location before abruptly ending the call. In tears, his sister shared her frustration and concern over his vague assurances and the brief, cryptic conversation.
Li’s sudden appearance after two months raised as many questions as it answered. Given his uncertain and fearful tone, his family suspects he may be under duress or in a controlled environment, possibly at the mercy of a criminal organization. The Cambodian location also deepened their concerns, given recent reports of Chinese nationals being trafficked to work in Cambodian casinos or cyber scam operations.
Just a day before the call, Li’s sister had received a distressing call from a Myanmar-based number. The caller demanded a ransom of 200,000 yuan (around $27,000 USD) for Li’s release. Although his sister initially dismissed it as a scam, the family began making frantic plans to sell property to raise the money, unsure if the demand was genuine.
With the subsequent video call from Li, suspicions arose that the ransom call could have been a setup by fraudsters looking to exploit the family’s desperation. However, the video call provided little reassurance. Li’s cryptic comments and his visible distress led them to believe he was indeed trapped but under unknown circumstances, possibly by multiple parties attempting to manipulate or extort the family.
As of now, Li’s family, along with local authorities, are working with international organizations and the Chinese embassy in Cambodia in an attempt to confirm his exact location and secure his safe return. His father expressed remorse, blaming himself for not being able to provide better support for his son and lamenting the life-threatening consequences of his son’s attempt to help his ailing parents.
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