BANGKOK – Thai authorities are intensifying efforts to locate two foreign suspects still at large following the exposure of a large-scale cross-border romance scam that allegedly defrauded a Thai single mother of nearly $705,000 over more than two years.
The Royal Thai Police, through the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), confirmed that 13 individuals have already been arrested in connection with the case. Charges being pursued include fraud by impersonation, document forgery, entering false data into computer systems, and money laundering. However, a Canadian man and a Cambodian man remain fugitives, according to investigators.
The case came to light after the victim reported her experience via Thailand’s Anti-Online Scam Center, using the national police online reporting system. Investigators said the woman was drawn into an online relationship in 2023 after meeting a man on the ThaiCupid dating website. After building trust, their conversations shifted to the LINE messaging application.
Police said the scammer posed as a Jordanian single father who claimed his overseas business had collapsed. Over time, he persuaded the woman to invest money with him abroad, promising significant returns. He further claimed that if the investment succeeded, he would relocate to Thailand to live with her, strengthening the emotional manipulation.
Between January 2024 and July 2025, the victim reportedly made 42 separate money transfers, losing a total of 21.9 million baht. The fraud only became clear when communication from the man slowed, prompting the woman to suspect deception and contact authorities.
Following the investigation, arrest warrants were approved for 17 suspects, including 14 Thai nationals and three foreigners. The foreign suspects were identified as one Canadian, one Cambodian, and one Swiss national. Police arrested 13 suspects across nine provinces, while two others were already incarcerated for unrelated offenses.
The two remaining suspects on the run were named as Mr. Yat, a Canadian national, and Mr. Kim, a Cambodian national. Authorities have not disclosed their possible locations but confirmed that international cooperation is underway to track them down.
All arrested suspects have denied the allegations. Some claimed they were merely involved in buying and selling digital currency, while others stated they were paid by unknown individuals to open bank accounts and establish mobile banking applications, a common tactic used by organized scam networks.
Thai police warned the public to remain vigilant when engaging in online relationships, particularly when money or investment opportunities are involved. Officials emphasized that romance scams continue to be a major cybercrime threat and encouraged victims to report suspicious activity promptly to prevent further losses.
