User of 58.com Kidnapped to Cambodia After Clicking Fake Job Ad

Image Source: Visual China

BEIJING, February 17 (TMTPOST) — A user of Chinese classified advertisement platform 58.com was reportedly kidnapped to Cambodia, where his health was harmed by blood withdrawal under duress.

A spokesperson of 58.com said the company is now investigating the matter.

A user surnamed Li said that he was kidnapped to Cambodia after applying for a nightclub security guard position in Chongzuo, Guangxi Autonomous Region that he saw on 58.com. Li said he was then kidnapped to Cambodia by a person who claimed to be the HR of the nightclub.

Li said he was used as a blood bag after being kidnapped to Cambodia and refusing to be part of the telecom fraud group. Every month, the kidnappers would draw a bag of blood from him, resulting in a serious shortage of blood in his body and body swelling. According to Li, he was detained by the kidnappers in Sihanoukville.

A customer service agent of 58.com said that the company will work with the authorities to investigate the matter.

The Bethune Cambodia China First Hospital informed the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia that it received a Chinese patient in critical condition who claimed to be kidnapped to Cambodia, according to an announcement made by the Chinese Embassy on February 16. The embassy warned Chinese nationals to beware of fake recruiting advertisements that promise high salaries. Chinese citizens who wish to come to Cambodia for employment should use proper channels (to look for jobs), the embassy said in the announcement. The embassy has worked with local law enforcement to investigate the matter.

Established in 2005 and headquartered in Beijing, 58.com is an information platform where users can post and look for information on employment, apartments and services, etc. Chinese users, especially young users who know about trends on the Internet, tend to be skeptical about the information on 58.com. In 2018, the platform was placed under heavy regulatory scrutiny in Beijing for the false advertisement of apartments for rent on its platform.

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