Fraudster Arrested in Major Land Deed Scam Worth Over 100 Million Baht

Picture courtesy of CIB.

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has arrested a notorious female fraudster involved in a sophisticated criminal network responsible for forging land title deeds and defrauding victims out of more than 100 million baht across multiple provinces.

Officers from the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), led by Pol. Lt. Col. Korpong Wongsalangkan, apprehended the suspect, Ms. Rattaya, in front of a dormitory in Samut Prakan province. She was detained under an arrest warrant issued by the Thanyaburi Provincial Court on 12 March 2025, charging her with “forgery and use of forged documents.”

Police investigations revealed that Ms. Rattaya was a key player in a well-organised criminal ring engaged in complex document forgery operations. The group’s primary tactic was the fabrication of counterfeit land deeds and powers of attorney, which were then used to deceive investors and land buyers.

One of the most common schemes involved impersonating representatives of loan companies, persuading victims to invest or take out high-interest loans using forged land deeds as collateral. In some cases, legitimate land titles, obtained under false pretences, were used to fraudulently sell property to unsuspecting buyers, supported by forged documents claiming that the actual owners had authorised the transactions. In truth, many of the property owners had no knowledge their land was being used in such dealings.

To bolster their credibility, the fraudsters orchestrated staged property transactions, misleading victims by claiming that “insiders” at the Land Department were managing the paperwork. Fake documents were then presented to convince victims of the transaction’s legitimacy. The fraud was widespread, with numerous victims reported in Surin, Buriram, Sikhoraphum, Rattanaburi, Tha Tum, and several other districts.

The extent of the damage became clear when a group of victims joined forces and filed a complaint with the CSD on 19 March 2025. Many victims had lost life savings, believing they were investing in lucrative land deals or legitimate loan agreements. In some tragic cases, the emotional toll was so severe that victims contemplated suicide, though timely intervention by family members prevented fatalities.

Authorities later discovered that Ms. Rattaya had a long criminal history, with over 20 previous charges, mostly involving fraud, use of forged documents, and repeat deception. Police believe she may be linked to a wider network of fraudsters operating across several provinces.

Following her arrest, Ms. Rattaya was transferred to Thanyaburi Provincial Court for legal proceedings. The operation was conducted in strict compliance with the Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance Act, B.E. 2565 (2022).

The case has highlighted the growing threat of document forgery and financial scams in Thailand and prompted calls for greater vigilance and tougher crackdowns on criminal networks exploiting gaps in the system.

-- 2025-04-13