Krabi mother scammed twice while trying to bail out son

[webfact]

A mother from Krabi has been left devastated after being scammed twice while trying to secure bail for her son, costing her 100,000 baht and leaving her in debt. Her son remains in prison and she is pleading for help.

 

Lawyer Vichupan Chitpakdi, accompanied by 45 year old Boonta, approached reporters at 5pm yesterday, September 19, in Nonthaburi to report that a woman named Rung had deceived her by claiming she could facilitate her son’s bail.

 

Boonta’s 19 year old son, Teppan, was arrested on January 8 for opening a mule account while at his girlfriend’s house in Surat Thani. He was taken into custody by the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) and transferred to Bangkok for further legal proceedings, where he remains in Ratchada Criminal Court’s custody.

 

Boonta explained that her son had been tricked into opening the account while looking for a job at a restaurant in Phuket. The scammer promised to pay him through this new bank account. However, instead of securing employment, her son ended up being implicated in criminal activities.

 

In February, 35 year old Rung befriended Boonta and claimed she had connections with influential figures and politicians. Rung promised that these connections could help secure her son’s bail and mitigate the charges but required a fee of 125,000 baht—100,000 baht for the influential figures and 25,000 baht for the TCSD officers.

Desperate to free her son, Boonta borrowed money at exorbitant interest rates of 10% to 20%, managing to gather 98,000 baht. She handed the money to Rung, hoping it would expedite her son’s release.

 

However, in July, when they went to Ratchada Criminal Court to process the bail, they were informed that the investigation officer opposed the bail request. This raised Boonta’s suspicions, and upon questioning, Rung began to evade her queries.

 

Boonta continued to demand the return of her money from Rung, who kept assuring her that the bail process was still underway. Eventually, Rung became unresponsive, and despite Boonta’s persistent efforts, her son has yet to be granted bail.

 

Previous scam

 

Adding to her distress, Boonta revealed that she had previously been deceived by another lawyer who promised to help with her son’s bail for a fee of 10,000 baht. After paying the money, she discovered that no lawyer had ever contacted her son regarding the bail, realising she had been scammed for the first time.

 

Through tears, Boonta shared her hardships, stating that she earns a daily wage of 150 baht through odd jobs, while her husband suffers from heart disease and has undergone two surgeries, with another still needed. She expressed her deep sorrow over her son’s imprisonment and the additional burden of being cheated. She appealed to Rung to return her money due to her significant debt.

 

Lawyer Vichupan explained that Rung’s fraudulent activities involved falsely claiming connections with influential figures, including his name, which he was unaware of until August 22. On that day, Boonta visited her son in prison and revealed she had paid 98,000 baht, believing in the influential names Rung had mentioned.

Vichupan further stated that Rung continues to solicit donations under the pretence of using the funds to support individuals filing complaints against political parties. However, investigations into the donation funds and bank statements revealed discrepancies, indicating personal misuse of the money. Rung’s actions may violate the Public Solicitation Act and constitute fraud.

 

Regarding taking legal action, Vichupan advised Boonta against filing a police report, fearing injustice and delays due to Rung’s connections with influential people. Instead, they have gathered all evidence to directly file a lawsuit in court through the lawyer’s authority, reported KhaoSod.

 

by Puntid Tantivangphaisal
Photo courtesy of KhaoSod

 

Source: The Thaiger 

-- 2024-09-21

 

[4MyEgo]

You got to feel for these uneducated people at times, however we all know what LOS really stands for, if you haven't already been scammed, whether it was from a cop wanting tea money or an immigration officer wanting the same.

[Gottfrid]

1 hour ago, 4MyEgo said:

You got to feel for these uneducated people at times, however we all know what LOS really stands for, if you haven't already been scammed, whether it was from a cop wanting tea money or an immigration officer wanting the same.

Agree, but there is a very strange thing here. She is only making 150 baht per day with a disabled husband. How could even loan sharks agree to lend her 100k? Even they say no, when there are no ways possible to get back the money. Or maybe she put the house and land up, but it says nothing about that.

[Korat Kiwi]

Wait a few more days and she'll probably be scammed again. 

 

The pattern has already formed. 

[Dave0206]

53 minutes ago, Gottfrid said:

Agree, but there is a very strange thing here. She is only making 150 baht per day with a disabled husband. How could even loan sharks agree to lend her 100k? Even they say no, when there are no ways possible to get back the money. Or maybe she put the house and land up, but it says nothing about that.

Very true 150 baht would not even cover the daily interest. She obviously has some other assets I should imagine 

[AhFarangJa]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Regarding taking legal action, Vichupan advised Boonta against filing a police report, fearing injustice and delays due to Rung’s connections with influential people.

Just about says it all about the law here when a Lawyer advises you not to make a report because the other person has connections. Do you know who I am?

[Butts]

Lets see if this press release can cause some justice for the mother.  These are they guys we go to when were in trouble....

[Zack61]

These people are lower than shark sh!t but I’m sure the police are doing all they can. ( Tongue in cheek)

[TheFishman1]

Justice here L O L and where is the Red Bull kid TIT

[Cabradelmar]

He opened a mule account to facilitate anothers scam, and his mother gets scammed bailing him... Karma at work

[Sydebolle]

Well, well, what do you know. Why did that sweet heart of a son need to open a mule account in the first place in a place through a person far from home? 

If she pinpoints exactly, who was asking for the bribes, then the file moves a little closer. Somehow that money changed hands so, if the boys in brown would be serious to clean up the mess and come out as a winner, they will follow through. But, like in most other cases, the story will fizzle away and the recipients of the payments will be visited later on for a slice of the cake. 

The looser is the whining mother. The story with the boy has more chapters as well; start with why he needed a mule account and what did he intend (or done) with it. 

Not newsworthy, happened and will happen again as grieving Mummy wanted to take the short cut instead of letting her son stand for whatever he is/was accused for. 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Boonta explained that her son had been tricked into opening the account while looking for a job at a restaurant in Phuket. The scammer promised to pay him through this new bank account. However, instead of securing employment, her son ended up being implicated in criminal activities.

 

In February, 35 year old Rung befriended Boonta and claimed she had connections with influential figures and politicians. Rung promised that these connections could help secure her son’s bail and mitigate the charges but required a fee of 125,000 baht—100,000 baht for the influential figures and 25,000 baht for the TCSD officers.

Desperate to free her son, Boonta borrowed money at exorbitant interest rates of 10% to 20%, managing to gather 98,000 baht. She handed the money to Rung, hoping it would expedite her son’s release.

Like mother like son... both gullible

[Classic Ray]

So a woman hands over money obviously intended to pay off corrupt officials then complains when it doesn’t work.

 

I’m not feeling very sympathetic, it’s just another symptom of how broken the system is where people try to game it with bribery.

[Scouse123]

1 hour ago, AhFarangJa said:

Just about says it all about the law here when a Lawyer advises you not to make a report because the other person has connections. Do you know who I am?

 

The lawyer has asked her to bypass making a POLICE report, because of the other woman's friends in the police station and fear of corruption, but instead to file her complaint directly with the court.

[Scouse123]

6 minutes ago, Classic Ray said:

So a woman hands over money obviously intended to pay off corrupt officials then complains when it doesn’t work.

 

I’m not feeling very sympathetic, it’s just another symptom of how broken the system is where people try to game it with bribery.

 

It is all they know.

[black tabby12345]

Looking for the Backdoor Salvation, falling into the trap of the con man.

She was better off if she let her son do his time instead.

[john donson]

this society is corrupted to the bone, where people believe in paying scam artists and others to facilitate... som nam na?

[smew]

rename thailand to"  Land of Scams"  instead of Land Of Siam" 

[Matrosen]

4 hours ago, Gottfrid said:

Agree, but there is a very strange thing here. She is only making 150 baht per day with a disabled husband. How could even loan sharks agree to lend her 100k? Even they say no, when there are no ways possible to get back the money. Or maybe she put the house and land up, but it says nothing about that.

Sharks never decide who to bite & so it is with these sharks.

[Gottfrid]

Just now, Matrosen said:

Sharks never decide who to bite & so it is with these sharks.

BS! It´s a different shark. Let´s say like this, they are enough smart to want some form of security for a loan. Income of 150 baht is not such security.

 

And, yes! If you had any knowledge about sharks, you would know that almost all of them make selections. In fact, that is why there are not more shark attacks on humans.

[spidermike007]

If a lawyer ever advised me not to make a report because the person has connections, I would be on that report in 10 minutes, and I would do everything I could to make sure that the person who ripped me off, who has the connections led the most miserable life possible from this day forward. I would be on them like white on rice. I would rain on their parade every day of my life, they would rue the day that they were born, and they would pay me back because the misery that I showered upon that was so great, that they were burdened by the idea of getting up each and every morning. 

 

That is how you deal with people who rip you off, and believe me I speak from experience. It's happened to me, I've used this technique, and I got my money back. It took a while but when they gave me my money back they specifically told me I'm doing this so I could get my life back. 

[300sd]

This is very common here. When a family member is arrested everyone wants them out on bail until the court proceedings and even after the case on appeal if they were found guilty. The scum comes to the surface visibly here. I saw it when I was trying to have someone out on bail. I even had offers from a cop to pay a judge off.  I turned that lowlife down but it cost me a dinner and more. It's a difficult situation and easy to take advantage when people are desperate.

[Kinok Farang]

It's not just us that get scammed.They will do it to each other no qualms.

I just want to give this poor lady a big hug now.

[billd766]

40 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

If a lawyer ever advised me not to make a report because the person has connections, I would be on that report in 10 minutes, and I would do everything I could to make sure that the person who ripped me off, who has the connections led the most miserable life possible from this day forward. I would be on them like white on rice. I would rain on their parade every day of my life, they would rue the day that they were born, and they would pay me back because the misery that I showered upon that was so great, that they were burdened by the idea of getting up each and every morning. 

 

That is how you deal with people who rip you off, and believe me I speak from experience. It's happened to me, I've used this technique, and I got my money back. It took a while but when they gave me my money back they specifically told me I'm doing this so I could get my life back. 

Which is fine if you are from the West where corruption is far less, it is also fine if you are in Thailand with piles of money.

 

It is not so fine if you are a poor Thai in Thailand where the judiciary and the police are far more corrupt and have the power to throw you in jail as well.

 

If I assume that she only earns 150 baht per day which is quite easy, then instead of going to the bank or a loan shark for a loan, she may have borrowed from family or friends.

 

Being poor in Thailand is not the same as being poor in the West, where the police and the judiciary are more honest and support from the governments is more easily available.

[Danderman123]

What's a mule account?

[Gottfrid]

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

If a lawyer ever advised me not to make a report because the person has connections, I would be on that report in 10 minutes, and I would do everything I could to make sure that the person who ripped me off, who has the connections led the most miserable life possible from this day forward. I would be on them like white on rice. I would rain on their parade every day of my life, they would rue the day that they were born, and they would pay me back because the misery that I showered upon that was so great, that they were burdened by the idea of getting up each and every morning. 

 

That is how you deal with people who rip you off, and believe me I speak from experience. It's happened to me, I've used this technique, and I got my money back. It took a while but when they gave me my money back they specifically told me I'm doing this so I could get my life back. 

That was probably in another country. Good luck trying that in Thailand! You will probably be the one ending up behind bars, if you are that lucky.

[Korat Kiwi]

1 hour ago, Danderman123 said:

What's a mule account?

I believe it's a legitimate bank account that is opened up for the purpose of money laundering. 

 

The person opening the account is the mule,  similar to drug mules but in this instance it's money instead of drugs. 

 

The illegal types then may pay the mule for opening an account for them using his/her details.  

[Danderman123]

1 minute ago, Korat Kiwi said:

I believe it's a legitimate bank account that is opened up for the purpose of money laundering. 

 

The person opening the account is the mule,  similar to drug mules but in this instance it's money instead of drugs. 

 

The illegal types then may pay the mule for opening an account for them using his/her details.  

Is the crime opening the account, or accepting monies from other persons and then making transfers?

 

This would seem to be a very difficult crime to spot in the first place.

 

Also, why wouldn't the young man just roll over on his confederates? Or why wouldn't they pay his bail and get him away before he rolls on them?

[suspectdevice]

9 hours ago, Korat Kiwi said:

Wait a few more days and she'll probably be scammed again. 

 

The pattern has already formed. 

The word is out and the scum will be circling 😒

[tomacht8]

Corruption and scammers everywhere you look. Unfortunately, it is common practice in Thailand that you can use “money under the table payments” to buy some shortcuts or relief in the official legal system.