A 38-year-old Pattaya woman has come forward to warn the public after losing more than 300,000 baht (around USD 9,000) in a sophisticated online scam. The victim, identified only as Ms. Cat, reported the incident to Thailand’s cybercrime hotline and later gave a formal statement to Banglamung Police Station. Authorities have since launched an investigation into the fraudulent scheme.
According to police reports, Ms. Cat, an employee of a private company, first encountered the scam through a Facebook page dedicated to second-hand sales. After reaching out to the page, she was directed to a Line group with over 300 members. The group appeared legitimate and was administered by individuals posing as trading experts.
Ms. Cat was told to provide personal information to create a “member account” for her shop, after which she was instructed to communicate with a so-called “finance officer” to complete transactions. Believing she was joining a legitimate trading network, she followed the instructions.
The scam began innocently. She was asked to sell a baby electric cradle and receive a payment of 2,600 baht. To do so, she needed to verify her identity and complete three tasks that supposedly “built credit” for her shop. These tasks initially involved transferring small amounts of money, for which she quickly received refunds along with small profits of about 20 baht.
Encouraged by these returns, Ms. Cat proceeded with larger transactions. The sums escalated from hundreds of baht to thousands, and eventually to tens of thousands. Convinced that each successful task was helping her secure higher returns, she continued to transfer money.
The deception intensified when the “finance officer” told her she had made a mistake during a high-value transaction. She was then asked to repeat the task, with further payments required to “correct the error.” By this point, Ms. Cat had already invested hundreds of thousands of baht.
When she became desperate to recover her funds, she was directed to yet another “service officer,” who claimed additional payments were necessary to bypass a supposed withdrawal limit. Despite her partner’s warnings, Ms. Cat pressed on, convinced that her money would soon be released. In the end, her life savings—over 300,000 baht—were gone.
Realizing the truth, she immediately contacted her bank and filed a complaint through Thailand’s 1144 cybercrime hotline. On September 15, 2025, she provided a detailed statement to Police Lieutenant Colonel Thatchasak Jirattikulchai, Deputy Superintendent (Investigation) of Banglamung Police Station.
Police confirmed that the fraudulent platform and its operators are under active investigation. Due to the sensitivity of the case, the exact names of the Facebook page and Line group have not been disclosed.
In her public warning, Ms. Cat urged others to remain vigilant when using online platforms. “Scams are closer than you think,” she said. “If a sale seems too quick or easy, assume you’re being deceived. Always think carefully and verify before proceeding.”
Cybercrime cases in Thailand have been steadily rising, with many scams targeting individuals through social media and messaging apps. Common tactics include promising easy profits, requesting identity verification, and gradually escalating financial commitments until victims are drained of their funds.
Authorities remind the public to exercise caution with online transactions, especially when asked to click on unfamiliar links or join unverified groups. They advise confirming the legitimacy of any trading platform and avoiding requests for upfront payments or identity documents from unknown parties.
Ms. Cat’s story serves as a stark reminder of the risks lurking in online spaces. While law enforcement works to track down those behind the scam, her warning highlights the importance of skepticism, verification, and vigilance in protecting oneself from digital fraud.
