Crime Scammer Dupes Dozens in Airline Ticket and Hotel Booking Fraud on Koh Samui

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Kaoded.

 

More than 20 victims gathered at Bo Phut Police Station on Koh Samui to file formal complaints against a woman accused of orchestrating a large-scale airline ticket and hotel booking scam, with damages reportedly exceeding 10 million baht.

 

The accused, identified as Ms. Kaewta, allegedly tricked friends, colleagues, and tourism business operators by offering domestic and international airline tickets as well as hotel rooms at unrealistically low prices. The victims are located not only on Koh Samui but also in Bangkok and Chiang Rai.

 

 

One of the victims, Ms. Ann, detailed how she was approached by Ms. Kaewta, who claimed to have access to discounted full-service airline tickets to Japan through a woman named Ms. Manow, allegedly her relative and a sales agent for the airline. Claiming the tickets were reserved for friends and family of employees, they offered them at a special rate of 7,000 baht per ticket. Ms. Ann initially bought three tickets, and the outbound flight went smoothly. However, on the return leg, despite prior seat reservations, no bookings were found, forcing her and her family to sit separately.

 

Encouraged by the initial trip, Ms. Ann booked more tickets, this time three open-dated tickets at 23,500 baht each, totalling 70,500 baht, transferring the money to the account of a Ms. Jutharat. Later, she also booked ten more tickets to Japan at 7,000 baht each (70,000 baht total), and six additional tickets on behalf of a friend at 8,500 baht each (51,000 baht total), paid to the account of a Mr. Sitthipong.

 

She further booked six tickets to Shanghai for 42,000 baht, paid directly to Ms. Kaewta. Suspicion arose when no electronic tickets were issued. On 31 March, just a day before departure, Ms. Kaewta assured that travel was confirmed, allegedly coordinating via a supposed airline supervisor named Ms. Kukkai. She instructed the victims not to go to the airport to avoid complications.

 

By 17:00 the day before the flight, with no confirmation or tickets in sight, Ms. Ann contacted the airline directly. She was informed that the promotional tickets did not exist and that neither “Ms. Manow” nor the supposed staff member were employed by the airline. She then publicised her story on social media, discovering many others had also been deceived. The number of victims is believed to exceed 50.

 

Ms. Kaewta, reportedly a former employee at five-star hotels in Koh Samui, Phuket, and Chiang Rai, currently runs a private airport transfer business. Following the complaints, she has not been seen and is believed to have fled the island.

 

Police Colonel Denduang Thongsrisuk and Police Lieutenant Colonel Thanongsak Aksornsom of Bo Phut Police Station have opened an investigation. Statements have been taken from the victims and further questioning is planned. Authorities have charged Ms. Kaewta with “defrauding the public” under Thai law.

 

The investigation is ongoing, and police are working to track down the suspect and gather evidence to bring her to justice.

 

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-04-24.

 

 

 

 

[flyingtlger]

32 minutes ago, Georgealbert said:

offering domestic and international airline tickets as well as hotel rooms at unrealistically low prices....

[crazykopite]

I’m very confused we have one of the complainants  seemingly purchasing loads of tickets what was she doing buying so many giving them away to family and friends as gifts it doesn’t add up