October 18, 2025 | 06:28 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A 26-year-old Belarusian model and singer, Vera Kravtsova, was reportedly murdered and had her organs harvested after falling victim to human trafficking in Myanmar. Authorities believe she was lured into a cyber scam operation in Yangon.
Kravtsova initially traveled to Bangkok for what she believed was a legitimate modeling job. However, upon arriving in Yangon on September 20, 2025, she was coerced into participating in a romance scam scheme.
According to reports from The Voice Mag and international outlets cited by Hong Kong media The Standard, Kravtsova was forced to pose as a female netizen on dating platforms to deceive foreign men into investment scams.
When she refused to cooperate and failed to meet targets, she was reportedly sold to an organ trafficking ring in early October 2025, where she was subsequently killed and her body cremated.
The scammers allegedly contacted Kravtsova’s family, demanding a US$500,000 ransom for the return of her ashes.
South Korean outlet The Chosun Daily reported that her family later received an anonymous message stating that she had been sold to an organ trafficking syndicate, her organs removed, and her body incinerated.
The organization first contacted Kravtsova's family to inform them of her death, stating, "She is already dead," and then issued a demand: "Send 500,000 dollars (approximately 700 million Korean won) if you want her body back."
When the family refused to comply with the ransom, the organization sent a final message, claiming, "We have already cremated the body," and warned them, "Do not look for her anymore."
Kravtsova's family also received an anonymous message containing a grim accusation: "Kravtsova was sold to an organ trafficking organization, had her organs removed, and her body was cremated."
Kravtsova, who had moved to Saint Petersburg, Russia, after graduating from university, worked as a freelance model before the incident.
A source from the Myanmar Police said Kravtsova had been deceived from the outset by a criminal network posing as a modeling agency.
“She was taken directly from Thailand to northern Myanmar and sold into slavery,” the police source said.
Human trafficking and cyber scam operations have become rampant in Cambodia and Myanmar, often involving transnational syndicates.
In a related development, South Korea recently repatriated dozens of its nationals from Cambodia suspected of involvement in online fraud. According to Al Jazeera, a chartered flight carrying 64 South Korean nationals arrived at Incheon International Airport on Saturday, October 18, 2025.
“All of them have been detained as criminal suspects,” an official said, adding that an investigation team had been sent to Cambodia earlier in the week.
South Korea’s National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac said the detained individuals included both willing participants and victims who had been forced to work in the cyber scam industry.
Editor’s Choice: Cambodia Deports 59 South Koreans Over Online Scam Scheme
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Indonesia's U-17 Women's National Team Misses Out on 2026 Asian Cup After Myanmar Defeat
8 jam lalu
The Indonesian U-17 women's national team loses 0-1 to Myanmar and fails to qualify for the final round.
Cambodia Deports 59 South Koreans Over Online Scam Scheme
20 jam lalu
The governments of Cambodia and South Korea are collaborating to repatriate dozens of South Koreans who were caught up in an online fraud scheme.
South Korean President Orders Removal of Cambodia Job Ads
1 hari lalu
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Thursday ordered the removal of job advertisements related to online fraud in Cambodia.
Why Does South Korea Issue "Code-Black" Travel Ban on Parts of Cambodia?
1 hari lalu
The South Korean government has imposed a travel ban in Cambodia and sent a team to evacuate its citizens from online scam compounds.
Cambodian Police Arrest 3 Chinese Nationals for Murder of South Korean Student
1 hari lalu
Cambodian police have detained three Chinese citizens for alleged online scam-related killing of a South Korean student.
South Korea Bans Travel to Cambodia Over Scam Centers
2 hari lalu
Seoul has said 1,000 South Koreans are working at online scam compounds in Cambodia that target victims globally.
Malaysia Says Trump Will Attend Thailand-Cambodia Peace Deal at ASEAN Summit
4 hari lalu
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, will attend the ceremonial signing of a peace agreement between Thailand and Cambodia during the upcoming ASEAN Summit.
Malaysia to Raise Myanmar Election Plans at ASEAN Summit
6 hari lalu
Malaysia will bring Myanmar's election plan and the invitation for ASEAN member states to send election observers to the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur.
Myanmar Junta Drops Bombs on Civilians During Full Moon Festival, Killing 40
9 hari lalu
Dozens of civilian casualties as Myanmar junta releases a bomb during full moon festival
US Deports Vietnamese and Cambodian Immigrants to Africa's Eswatini
11 hari lalu
The US has once again deported a group of immigrants to a third country in Southern Africa, Eswatini.
