PHICHIT, Thailand — The governor of Phichit province has ordered an urgent investigation after dozens of families discovered that their children were left without insurance coverage due to an alleged fraud scheme involving a bogus insurance agent.
The scandal came to light after the parents of a three-year-old girl tried to file a claim following a horrific accident in which their daughter fell into a charcoal kiln, resulting in severe burns and the amputation of three toes. Their claim was rejected when it was revealed that no insurance policy existed.
According to district officials, the child was enrolled at a child development centre in Ban Yang Sam Ton, Wang Sai Phun district. Her parents, along with many others, had paid insurance premiums believing their children were covered under a school-endorsed accident insurance policy.
However, investigations revealed that the person who collected the premiums was not a licensed agent and had failed to forward any funds to the insurance company. As a result, none of the children were covered, despite families paying between 220 to 300 baht per child.
“This is a serious matter. The governor, Thaniya Naipijit, has directed local authorities and the police to fully investigate the case and hold those responsible accountable,” said Wang Sai Phun district chief Savitrie Soi-uta.
At Ban Yang Sam Ton school alone, at least 93 students were believed to be insured under the fraudulent scheme. Parents were misled by the impersonator, who reportedly claimed to represent a well-known insurance provider. The agent has not yet been publicly identified.
The father of the injured girl, identified only as Witthayathorn, said the accident occurred earlier this year during a family visit to Pho Thale district. “We spent over 60,000 baht on medical bills. When we approached the school for insurance paperwork, we were shocked to learn that the policy was never real,” he said.
Deputy Governor Kittipol Wetchakun confirmed that the child had spent more than 50 days in hospital following the accident, which caused life-changing injuries. He added that legal action is now underway and police in Wang Sai Phun have received a formal complaint.
Authorities are now working to determine how many schools and families may have been affected. Early reports suggest that similar fraudulent collections were made at other educational centres in the region.
The incident has sparked outrage among parents and raised concerns over the oversight of school insurance schemes. Officials are urging all schools in the province to verify their insurance arrangements and report any irregularities.
“This was a betrayal of trust,” said Janejira Kaewraksa, the mother of the injured girl. “We entrusted the school with our child’s safety. Now we’re left to pick up the pieces on our own.”
The investigation is ongoing, and police are expected to issue charges once the suspect is identified and located.
