A Malaysian woman and her family managed to safely return home after a harrowing incident in Bangkok, Thailand. The incident shed light on a job scam syndicate where victims are reportedly confined in Burma, with parts of Thailand serving as the entry point, where their passports are seized by the syndicate. Recounting her frightening encounter on Facebook, the Malaysian woman emphasized how her limited knowledge of Thai played a crucial role in her escape.

During the second day of their trip, the family hired a driver for a day-long excursion, paying him around 1,500 Baht (approximately RM196). Soon, Mei Qi became uneasy about the driver's behavior; despite being behind the wheel, he made an unusually high number of phone calls—5 to 6 in just 20 minutes. Mei Qi's aunt, who understood some Thai, discerned the driver's suspicious conversation, where he mentioned having seven people in the car, inquiring about their stay duration and hotel location.

Adding to the suspicion, the driver claimed the journey would take an hour, contrary to Mei Qi's GPS-confirmed estimate of 30 minutes. As they decided to cancel the trip and return to their hotel, the driver insisted on going elsewhere, citing the need for gas. Sensing danger, Mei Qi and her family paid the driver at a gas station, where she promptly exited the car. Seeking refuge in a nearby cafe, they discovered that the driver left without refueling.

Mei Qi also learned from locals about potential connections between certain hotels and unlicensed cab drivers, assigned to lure unsuspecting tourists into precarious situations. She was cautioned against consuming bottled water in the car, as it might be tampered with. While uncertain if her family was specifically targeted, Mei Qi shared her experience to raise awareness about potential dangers for other travelers.