Thai woman nabbed for alleged 47 million baht face mask fraud

A Thai woman has been arrested, accused of running a face mask scam that defrauded an American company out of 47 million baht. The woman stands accused of fraud under false pretences and using false documents.

The United States-based company ABA USB Corp filed the complaint against the woman, alleging they had entered into an agreement to purchase 1.3 million face masks at a price of just over 47 million baht. That cost works out to about 36 baht per mask.

The deal was said to have been made between March and May of 2020 and the company said in their complaint that they paid for everything but have yet to receive a single mask, prompting them to contact the Thai police for assistance.

About a month-and-a-half ago, on August 19, the Phrakhanong Criminal Court in Bangkok issued a warrant for the arrest of the Thai woman for the accusations of false documentation and committing fraud under false pretences.

The woman was taken into custody yesterday morning in Bangkok. Police apprehended her in an early morning raid at an apartment building in Ban Suan Rim Khlong in Suan Luang district. There have been no details released on the possible punishment the woman may face if convicted of the fraud.

SOURCE: ASEAN Now