Scam Team Leader Arrested at Bangkok Airport En Route to Birthday Celebration Abroad

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

Officers from The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) arrested a key figure in the notorious “Mae Manee” pyramid investment scheme at Suvarnabhumi Airport on 3 July, as she attempted to board an international flight to celebrate her birthday.

The suspect, identified as Ms. Parnhathai (alias Narissara), was apprehended at approximately 13:00, at the international departures hall of Suvarnabhumi Airport. She was detained under an outstanding arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court (No. 26/2566, dated 26 September 2023) in connection with Special Case No. 9/2020.

According to the DSI, Ms. Parnhathai acted as a lead recruiter, or “team mother”, in the large-scale Ponzi scheme orchestrated by Ms. Wantanee, widely known by her alias “Mae Manee”. The fraudulent operation, which advertised on various Facebook pages such as “Maneerat Surangmathuros Tham Sawangkun”, “Nadear Wanthanee”, “Mungmee Srisuk Baramee Puenpoon”, and “Deposit for the Future”, lured over 1,000 victims with false promises of extraordinarily high returns on short-term investments.

Victims were enticed to deposit as little as 1,000 baht with promises of monthly returns as high as 93%, and in some cases, annual rates as high as 3,040%. These advertisements often appeared as livestream videos or written posts, showcasing fabricated testimonies and exaggerated claims of profit.

Authorities allege that Ms. Parnhathai played a significant role in managing and expanding the network of investors, which ultimately defrauded 1,133 individuals of over 200 million baht. Her arrest marks a major development in the ongoing crackdown on illegal financial schemes that prey on the public through social media.

Upon arrest, officers informed her of her rights in accordance with Thai criminal procedure law, including continuous video and audio recording during the arrest and detention.

She was then handed over to the DSI’s Division of Off-System Financial Business Crimes, where she was formally questioned and is expected to be held in pre-trial detention as investigations continue.

The case against “Mae Manee” and her network involves 31 suspects in total. DSI Director Pol. Lt. Col. Anon Untrichan assigned senior officers, including Ms. Parim Sariya and Lt. Worawan Rakpayak, to oversee the interrogation and legal proceedings.

The DSI urges the public to exercise extreme caution when approached with investment schemes promising unusually high returns and to report any suspicious activity to authorities.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khoasod 2025-07-05