Picture courtesy of Naewna

 

Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) police have arrested a 20-year-old trans woman who allegedly set up fake employment agencies to lure jobseekers with false promises of high-paying agricultural jobs in Canada. The suspect is accused of defrauding hundreds of victims out of a total of 40–50 million baht.

 

The suspect, identified as Mr. Phorntep, was arrested in a market area in Soi Chom Thong 12, Bangkok, under a warrant issued by the Thanyaburi Provincial Court on 12 March 2025. He faces charges of fraud and deception involving promises of overseas employment.

 

According to investigators, Phorntep operated three separate job placement companies, complete with registered business documents, rented offices and staff. Victims said they were initially recruited through social media ads promising legitimate work in Toronto, Canada, including roles in agriculture, vegetable harvesting and fruit packing.

 

Applicants were instructed to pay an initial fee of around 48,000 baht to cover document preparation, biometric data processing, and passport collection for visa applications. Later, they were pressured to pay an additional 85,000–98,000 baht for airline tickets and further processing fees under threat of visa cancellation.

 

When it came time to collect travel documents and tickets, the companies suddenly ceased operations, cut off all communication, and disappeared. Roughly 300 victims reported the scam to Pratunam Chulalongkorn Police Station in Pathum Thani, prompting an investigation.

 

In a disturbing twist, one victim was later contacted and told they must pay a “ransom” of 5,000 baht per person to retrieve their passport. Some, fearing permanent loss of their travel documents, complied. Following complaints, police traced the passports to a hotel in Rangsit, where officers intercepted another 19-year-old trans woman, Mr. Natthawut, carrying 241 Thai passports belonging to victims.

 

Natthawut confessed to knowing Phorntep and claimed the main suspect had fled to Laos. However, in May 2025, authorities learned that Phorntep had secretly returned to Thailand and was moving frequently to avoid arrest. He was finally located and arrested in Chom Thong District, Bangkok.

 

During interrogation, Phorntep denied the allegations, claiming he had been deceived into registering the companies himself. Nonetheless, he was handed over to Pratunam Chulalongkorn police for further legal proceedings.

 

The investigation has revealed tragic consequences. Some victims reportedly mortgaged or pawned property to raise the funds for their applications. Two individuals, overwhelmed by debt and despair, are reported to have taken their own lives as a result of the scam.

 

Authorities continue to investigate the full extent of the fraudulent network and have urged anyone affected to come forward.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Naewna 2025-07-21

 

 

 

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