A Thai man has fallen victim to a scam, losing 25,000 baht after being convinced he needed to pay a tax to secure US$1.5 million supposedly taken from Saddam Hussein’s vault. The victim reported the incident to Phetchakasem Police Station, saying he was deceived by a woman who contacted him on Facebook, claiming to be from San Jose, California. Their communication, which evolved into what he thought was a romantic relationship, led to the false promise of receiving the money in Thailand.
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The scammer, who claimed the cash from Saddam Hussein's vault, persuaded the man with offers of an iPhone 16 Pro Max and a Hublot watch as incentives for his help. When told the money had arrived in Phuket, the man was instructed to pay 25,000 baht to release the funds. After transferring the money to a supposed Customs Department account, the victim discovered he had been conned when the woman disappeared.
Authorities tracked the bank account to Thanat, a 27-year-old from Nakhon Pathom, arresting him in Bangkok. Thanat denied orchestrating the scam, suggesting his ID was likely used to open a fraudulent "mule" bank account. He claimed to have applied for an online loan in the past, fearing his details were misused for illicit activities.
Currently, there is no confirmation from law enforcement on whether further investigations will proceed to uncover additional suspects in the scam. As Thanat deals with the aftermath, he expresses concern over his family's welfare, with his wife now solely supporting their young child.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 30 Mar 2026
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