A retired 65-year-old nurse in Thailand has fallen victim to a romance scam, losing nearly 12 million baht after being duped by a fraudster she met on the TikTok platform. The victim sought assistance from the Foundation Campaigning to Reclaim Social Justice on June 15, as she was unaware of legal procedures to take action against the scammer, identified as 40-year-old Da.

 

During a press briefing, the retired nurse recounted how Da first reached out to her on TikTok on December 5 of last year. Da portrayed herself as lonely, and the two began a romantic correspondence. Within a week, Da proposed an investment opportunity in cryptocurrency, claiming her aunt was an expert working at a prominent crypto firm in Singapore, assuring the victim of its legality.

 

Despite never meeting face-to-face, the victim agreed to Da's persuasive investment pitch. She was instructed to buy USDT through the Bitkub platform and transfer funds to Da, who promised to manage the transactions. Initially, the victim transferred 5,000 baht and promptly received 6,000 baht as a return, encouraging her to invest further.

 

Over the following months, from February to March, she made a total of 14 transactions, culminating in a nearly 12 million baht outlay. However, when she attempted to withdraw her funds in late April, Da demanded a steep 10% tax—around 5 million baht—for the release of her investment. Unable to pay more, the nurse saw communication with Da abruptly end, revealing the scam.

 

The nurse was initially swayed by Da's TikTok videos, displaying a lavish lifestyle, and her affectionate messages. However, any attempts to meet, video call, or even speak over the phone were met with excuses, and eventually, silence.

 

In response to her plight, Ronnarong Kaewphet, President of the Foundation Campaigning to Reclaim Social Justice, pledged to assist the victim in filing a formal complaint with the cyber police. He also intends to investigate Da's identity to see if she operated under a false persona.

 

Should evidence point to Da's genuine involvement in orchestrating the scam, Ronnarong is prepared to mediate discussions between the parties in hopes of resolving the matter and possibly recouping the lost funds. The case brings to light the vulnerabilities surrounding online interactions and the pressing need for increased cyber awareness and protective measures.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-06-16

 

 

How does a nurse have 12M Baht unless it was inherited?

11 hours ago, DezLez said:

How does a nurse have 12M Baht unless it was inherited?

 

crypto investor on the side? 

24 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

 

crypto investor on the side? 

If it was that savvy how come she fell for the scam?

11 hours ago, DezLez said:

If it was that savvy how come she fell for the scam?

yeah, no.

crypto investors are smarter than that.

you got me. 

 

3 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

she made a total of 14 transactions, culminating in a nearly 12 million baht outlay. However, when she attempted to withdraw her funds in late April, Da demanded a steep 10% tax—around 5 million baht—

  

10% of 12m is now 5m ?

I get the wanting a bit of love in her life thing, but why is she chasing more money after a lifetime of work? At 60+, 12M could go a long way. 

I know someone who was swindled out of $850,000 USD in exactly this way.  Very embarrassing.

Funny how romance scams only hit the news when women are the victims.

 

Romance-scamming of men is systemic yet nobody cares. 

6 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

During a press briefing, the retired nurse recounted how Da first reached out to her on TikTok on December 5 of last year. Da portrayed herself as lonely, and the two began a romantic correspondence. Within a week, Da proposed an investment opportunity in cryptocurrency, claiming her aunt was an expert working at a prominent crypto firm in Singapore, assuring the victim of its legality.

 

 

Ohh Lord!!!  When will the scamming ever stop?

 

And when will certain people learn to be more careful with the wealth they have accumulated in life, especially when it comes to contacts made via social media....  

 

 

 

3 hours ago, NE1 said:

  

10% of 12m is now 5m ?

I assume her portfolio was worth "50 million " after profits and like the Nigerian lottery you  need to pay to release this fortune it's all very normal and above board

There is a sucker in every crowd.  And greed drives the con.  

13 hours ago, DezLez said:

How does a nurse have 12M Baht unless it was inherited?

 

Depending on how high up she got (Teaching Professor?), you can make pretty good money as a nurse. 

13 hours ago, DezLez said:

How does a nurse have 12M Baht unless it was inherited?

Folks have money. Land prices in many areas is crazy expensive. 2-3 rai = 12 mil easy here.

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Within a week, Da proposed an investment opportunity in cryptocurrency,

Red flag

Who is the nurse?

The first one?

Or this with the curtain? 🎉😂

14 hours ago, DezLez said:

How does a nurse have 12M Baht unless it was inherited?

She got some Farang husbands before. ???

As a nurse she offered good care apparently.

2 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Who is the nurse?

The first one?

Or this with the curtain? 🎉😂

The one with the lost face I imagine

14 hours ago, DezLez said:

How does a nurse have 12M Baht unless it was inherited?

Off topic comment!

12 million baht? Wow. Didnt know a nurse could save that much money in Thailand.

13 hours ago, NE1 said:

  

10% of 12m is now 5m ?

Yeah, calculating in greediness

She looks much younger than 65

Only half a story ...... can't conclude anything until we get the full S.P. 

She could easily put 800k baht into your retirement extension.

It's so sad that these women are so hard up that they send guys all of their money.

20 minutes ago, Frankie baby said:

Only half a story ...... can't conclude anything until we get the full S.P. 

Wanna bet, this ASEAN now! The forum for people who have Olympic gold medals in jumping to conclusions. 

18 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

During a press briefing, the retired nurse recounted how Da first reached out to her on TikTok on December 5 of last year. Da portrayed herself as lonely, and the two began a romantic correspondence. Within a week, Da proposed an investment opportunity in cryptocurrency, claiming her aunt was an expert working at a prominent crypto firm in Singapore, assuring the victim of its legality.

 

This is how these scams work and why I have little sympathy.

First off, with 12 miilion THB in saving this woman was "well off" by Thai standards and even by Western standard with over $360K in savings.  With that kind of money she could have easily found a reputable brokerage firm to help her invest her money. All these firms offer investment advisors:
Vanguard International
Charles Schwab International
Fidelity International

But just sitting in a savings account - that's a hell of a nest egg for retirement.  And as a retired nurse she is no doubt pulling a decent pension by Thai standards as well.  That would put her squarely in the bracket of Thai upper-middle class.

But the 12 million THB isn't good enough.  And her own greed for more, more, more even though she has a solid retirement nest-egg just isn't enough.

Loneliness put her in the position to be scammed.  Greed lost her life savings.  

People consumed by greed don't get my sympathy when they get conned. Now she'll have to live on the pension alone which still puts her in a better position than the majority of retired Thais.  Sad, but if people are greedy, then con artists can prey on them like lion packs on the Serengeti tracking gazelle. They are a match made in Romance Scam Hell.  

"The nurse was initially swayed by Da's TikTok videos, displaying a lavish lifestyle, and her affectionate messages."

Lured by both Greed and by the Thai social weakness of wanting social status and to live not just comfortably - but lavishly.  Worshiped as a "Rich, Wealthy Woman" in he village. 

I'm sure there are a ton of lonely, relatively rich female Thai retirees who are just ripe for this scam.

They run this through their greed infested minds:  "Instead of just 12 million THB I'll have 120 million THB and I'll live in a mansion and drive a Lamborghini, and rub shoulders with the Shinawatras. I'll be...special!" 

Getting scammed is the reward of unbridled Greed as well as unbridled ignorance.  Now?  You're a lonely retired nurse who has to live like most other ageing retired Thais.  Too bad, so sad - sucks to be you.  Will other Thais in her position learn a lesson? Nope.

Greed + Desire For Social Standing = The Perfect Mark For Confidence Scams.

12 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

 

Ohh Lord!!!  When will the scamming ever stop?

 

And when will certain people learn to be more careful with the wealth they have accumulated in life, especially when it comes to contacts made via social media....  

 

 

 

When will human greed ever stop.  There!  You have your answer.  Greed is a bottomless pit.

2 hours ago, ChrisKC said:

Off topic comment!

As you are commenting on an off-topic comment, obviously that means that your topic is also off- topic!
Hold on - that means that this comment must also be off-topic!
Please don't read this comment.

16 hours ago, save the frogs said:

yeah, no.

crypto investors are smarter than that.

you got me. 

 

Actually if you make a lot of money in crypto you tend to lose it easier because you didnt work hard for it in the first place