Police in Macau on Thursday said they are looking into four suspected cases of human trafficking involving people being lured to work in Southeast Asian countries.

Detectives said one suspected victim left the SAR for Laos last month after he was offered a casino PR job purportedly paying US$5,000 a month.

He has since left Laos and is reported to be safe.

Police said in other cases, three women were planning to travel to Cambodia but officers persuaded them not to go.

Detectives said they are investigating whether human trafficking syndicates are operating in Macau.

Casino workers, teenagers and the unemployed appear to be being targeted through adverts on social media and word of mouth, police said.

They added that victims of the scams face violence and being coerced into taking part in fraudulent activities, and could be required to pay a ransom in order to escape their ordeal.

Similar reports of trafficking have emerged this week involving Hongkongers.