A Chinese social media influencer who vanished during a trip to Cambodia has been arrested on suspicion of involvement in online scams and cross-border human trafficking.
Zhang Mucheng, who goes by the online name “Sister Orange”, was arrested by Cambodian police on 13 Nov 2025. The 26-year-old influencer has more than 130,000 followers on Chinese social media platforms.
Zhang had travelled to Cambodia in early November to visit her boyfriend, who owns a restaurant in the country. She was scheduled to return to China on 13 Nov 2025.
Starting from the afternoon of 12 Nov, Zhang’s phone was switched off and she became uncontactable. Her boyfriend’s devices also powered down at the same time.
She subsequently missed her return flight, which prompted her family, friends, and fans to grow concerned about her safety.
Rumours spread online that Zhang had been deceived by her boyfriend and sold to a Cambodian fraud ring for 1.75 million yuan (~S$321,000).
Fraud and Trafficking Allegations Lead to Detention in Prey Sar Prison
Local authorities told The Cambodia China Times that Zhang has been accused of participating in various online fraud activities. She is also suspected of working with criminal gangs to facilitate cross-border human trafficking.
The alleged crimes took place from October to November 2025.
An anonymous source told The Cambodia China Times that earnings from these suspected crimes went into a bank account registered under Zhang’s name. The source indicated that part of the criminal revenue flowed into an account bearing her name.
On 15 Nov, a detention order was issued under Cambodia’s criminal code and the Law on the Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation.
She was transferred to Prey Sar Prison in Phnom Penh, the largest prison in Cambodia. Zhang is currently being held there while awaiting trial.
Under Cambodia’s criminal code, fraud carries a punishment of imprisonment ranging from two to five years. For those convicted of engaging in unlawful cross-border transfers under the country’s Law on the Suppression of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation, the sentence ranges from seven to 15 years imprisonment.
Family Launches Search Efforts as Cambodia’s Criminal Reputation Surfaces
Before news of Zhang’s arrest emerged, her sister and friends raised a potential missing person alert on Douyin and Weibo, calling for information about her whereabouts.
Her fans organised a crowdfunding campaign to support Zhang’s family in their search efforts in Cambodia.
Zhang’s family, viewing her as missing, sought help from the Chinese Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sihanoukville, Cambodia, has a reputation for being a hub where criminal rings involved in human trafficking and illegal telecom fraud operate. The area is also known for frequent violent crimes targeting foreigners.
In August 2025, a Korean college student surnamed Park was found dead in the region.
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