A video began circulating on Myanmar social media circles last month. It depicted a man, who called himself Bi Huijun, issuing a stark warning to his family from what looked like a padded cell.

We ¡°earn money from telescams,¡± Bi said, appearing to read from a script.

¡°The Chinese government will absolutely make us pay with blood,¡± he added, asking his relatives in Myanmar to immediately release victims hailing from across the border.