A university student from Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, has been missing in Cambodia since December of the previous year, and concerns have been raised about his possible involvement with a fraudulent group. His mother expressed her fears during an interview, stating that all she hopes for is her son's safe return. The young man had traveled to Cambodia after being invited by an acquaintance for a short trip, with plans to return shortly after. He had confirmed reaching his destination through location sharing with his family, but the next day, his location indicated he was in Cambodia and then stopped updating.

As the days passed without any contact, his mother reported him missing to the police after he did not return home as scheduled. Efforts to reach out to the Japanese embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were also made in hopes of locating her son. During the investigation, it was revealed that a friend who accompanied him had been contacted via social media by an unknown person who had promised to cover travel expenses using company funds. This connection raises concerns about the potential involvement of the student and his friends in criminal activities, as they may have been lured into a scam without being fully aware of it.

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned about frequent cases where individuals are persuaded to travel abroad under false pretenses, such as through enticing job offers or adventure trips, only to find themselves entangled in illegal activities. The rise in international fraud groups targeting young people has prompted authorities to call for increased awareness of the risks involved in traveling abroad for seemingly harmless reasons. The mother aims to raise awareness of these dangers among young travelers to prevent them from becoming victims of such schemes.