Crime Husband & Wife Arrested for Running Investment Scam Involving Scrap Air Conditioners

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A husband and wife have been arrested in Chok Chai District, Nakhon Ratchasima, after being accused of orchestrating a widespread investment scam that defrauded numerous victims across Thailand. The couple posed as contractors and lured victims into bogus deals involving the resale of used air conditioners, old electrical wiring and industrial machinery.

 

According to police, Mr Lertchai 50mand Ms Waree 54, were apprehended on multiple fraud charges following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Bureau’s Division of Special Investigation (DSI). The arrests were carried out by Operation Team 3 under the direction of Pol Lt Col Chada Sesawet.

 

The suspects reportedly targeted individuals encountered through their work in the construction sector. They claimed to have acquired 100 second-hand air conditioners from a defunct hotel, priced at 1,000 baht each, and invited victims to invest in the purportedly profitable resale. The scheme extended to similar pitches involving used electrical wiring allegedly sourced from a hotel in the Khao Yai area, valued at 320,000 baht and outdated milling machinery supposedly worth 300,000 baht.

 

Once victims transferred funds, the couple vanished and ceased all contact, delivering no goods or returns on the promised investments.

 

Mr Lertchai is wanted under three separate warrants:

 

• Warrant 179/2564, issued by the Bangkok South District Court on 9 July 2021 for fraud, related to a case under the jurisdiction of Thonglor Police Station.

• Warrant 26/2567, issued on 30 January 2024 by the Nakhon Pathom District Court for joint fraud.

• Warrant 370/2567, dated 6 September 2024, issued by the Nonthaburi District Court, again for joint fraud.

 

He has now been handed over to Thonglor Police for legal proceedings.

 

Ms Waree is facing similar charges, with two outstanding warrants:

 

• Warrant 371/2567, issued by the Nonthaburi District Court on 6 September 2024 for joint fraud.

• Warrant 27/2567, issued by the Nakhon Pathom District Court on 30 January 2024, also for joint fraud.

 

She confessed to using the money obtained from the scams for personal expenses and has been transferred to Nonthaburi Police for further investigation and prosecution.

 

Police have urged anyone who may have fallen victim to similar scams to come forward and provide statements to assist in the ongoing investigation.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khaosod 2025-05-25.