Lopburi man caught in web of young suitor’s deception

An intriguing tale unfolded when a 30 year old man, residing in Lopburi, found himself entangled in a romantic deception orchestrated by a younger suitor. The 22 year old suitor charmed his way into the man’s life with claims of wealth and a flashy new car.

Over three months, what began as a promising relationship swiftly unravelled into a tale of deceit and theft, leaving the victim desperate for justice and the return of his stolen motorcycle.

The victim, who identified as a member of the LGBTQ community, recounted his experience to local reporters. He met his charming suitor, referred to as B, through social media, where B presented himself as a man of means, supposedly involved in the family business of car rentals.

The allure of B’s lifestyle, complete with a brand-new car, made it easy for the victim to fall for his charms. Initial online conversations blossomed into a romantic relationship that saw the two visiting each other often.

However, as their relationship progressed, B began asking for money, citing urgent needs. The victim, believing in the sincerity of his partner, lent him 5,000 baht (US$145). B reassured him that the money would be returned by November 5, even providing a copy of his ID card along with a written note as a form of assurance.

“On October 31, B arrived early at my house, offering to drive me to work in his car, a deviation from my usual routine of riding my motorcycle. Trusting him, I accepted the offer, leaving my motorcycle and house keys behind.

“After work, I returned home, only to find B gone along with my motorcycle. My house was in disarray, indicating a thorough search had been conducted.”

Motorcycle theft

Following this unsettling discovery, the victim sought assistance from a neighbour, reviewing their CCTV footage. The footage revealed B, along with an unidentified man and woman, pushing the motorcycle out of the property at around 11am. The group appeared to inspect the vehicle before loading it onto a white pickup truck, suspected to belong to local buyers.

The betrayal deepened when B contacted the victim via a messaging app, confessing to pawning the motorcycle to settle debts. He promised its return within five days and mentioned a trip to Poipet, Cambodia, to engage in financial dealings. After this message, B cut off all communication, leaving the victim in distress, reported KhaoSod.

The local officials have since been involved, escalating the charges against B from embezzlement to theft and extending the charges to include the accomplices involved in the motorcycle’s removal. Despite these developments, the victim remains without his motorcycle, creating significant inconvenience for his daily commute to work.