In early January, a little-known Chinese actor was swept up in an international controversy revolving around Chinese nationals being trafficked and exploited in other Asian countries.

The 31-year-old Wang Xing, who also uses Xingxing as a screen name, traveled to Thailand for what he believed to be a job casting by a major entertainment company.

Once there, he was allegedly met by armed men who forced him into a car and took him across the Thai border into Myanmar.

His captors shaved his head and reportedly started training him to scam Chinese people while working in a call center.

Wang later alleged seeing many other people, all with shaved heads, at the site, including at least 50 other Chinese nationals who had suffered a similar fate.

Meanwhile, Wang's girlfriend turned to social media after losing contact with the actor on January 3. Her plea for help was picked up by major Chinese celebrities, and Wang was rescued and returned to Thailand four days after his kidnapping, appearing before Thai media alongside local police.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

On camera, Wang seemed to downplay security concerns for tourists visiting Thailand, thanking the police and saying the country was "quite safe."

"If there is a chance in the future, I would want to return to Thailand," he said.

The fate of other Chinese captives in the call center remains unclear.

Myanmar is in the grips of civil war and has become a hotbed for scam centers

© Deutsche Welle