Two Business Executives Arrested for Investment Scam

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of CIB

 

Police have arrested two women suspected of running a fraudulent investment scheme involving mobile SIM cards and top-up machines, promising high financial returns. Authorities have seized assets worth over 50 million baht, including luxury cars, branded handbags, and hundreds of top-up machines.

 

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), led by Police Major General Thatphoom Charuprat, announced on 27 February, the arrest of Ms. Roengrudi, 45, and Ms. Pornpimon, 30, executives of Pun Suk 555 Co., Ltd. and K4 Communication Co., Ltd. The suspects, who are aunt and niece, allegedly lured investors into a high-return investment scheme.

 

Victims were invited to invest 50,000 baht in a prepaid SIM card business and “Katie Pun Suk” top-up machines, with the promise of 150,000 baht in returns over 500 days. Additionally, those who recruited new investors were offered up to 50% commission. Investors signed up via the company’s website and made payments via QR code transactions.

 

Initially, the scheme appeared legitimate, as investors received payouts, encouraging them to recruit more participants. However, by October 2024, payments stopped, and when victims demanded their returns, the suspects claimed technical issues with the machines.

 

In February 2025, 61 victims, representing nearly 300 affected investors, reported losses totalling over 27 million baht to the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD). Following an undercover operation, police attended an investment seminar at the company’s office in Khan Na Yao district, where they arrested both suspects.

 

Authorities seized:

 

• 11 luxury cars

• 258 top-up machines

• 4 branded handbags

• Other assets

 

Investigations revealed that the suspects imported top-up machines from a Thai company but never obtained approval from the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). Some machines were found non-functional, and the suspects had allegedly transferred and concealed assets to avoid detection.

 

Both suspects have been charged with fraud and unauthorised public borrowing. They have denied all allegations.

 

Authorities have warned the public to remain cautious of high-return investment schemes and confirmed that the Consumer Protection Board (CPB) is reviewing the case to determine additional legal actions.

 

-- 2025-02-28