Khon Kaen kidnap caper: Daughter’s scam to call home for cash

A Thai couple in the Isaan province of Khon Kaen sought police help, believing their daughter had been kidnapped by a call centre scam gang for ransom. However, the woman later confessed to staging the kidnapping to extort money from her parents to pay off her debt.

The couple, 51 year old Kittima and his wife, filed a complaint with Mueang Khon Kaen Police Station on Saturday, August 3, stating their 22 year old daughter, Kittiporn, had been kidnapped. Kittiporn disappeared around 5pm of the day while travelling to a hospital to get medicine for her nine month old child.

The alleged kidnappers claimed Kittiporn owed them 40,000 baht but only paid 10,000 baht. They demanded the couple pay the remaining debt for Kittiporn’s release, threatening to kill her if they did not receive the money by 6pm that day.

Kittima explained that he and his wife did not send money and planned to seek police help. while the couple were about to go to the police station, Kittiporn called, crying and saying that the gang would kill her if her parents went to the police. Kittima reassured his daughter and insisted on filing a complaint.

The couple told police they believed a call centre scam gang was behind the abduction. The scammers could be trying to trick Kittporn into giving them money.

Kittiporn’s husband, 23 year old Phatpong, told Channel 3 that he was unaware of any debt and had never seen anyone demand payment from Kittiporn. He expressed deep concern for his wife’s safety.

Police investigated the kidnapping and discovered it was fabricated. Kittiporn was found at a house in another Isaan province, Maha Sarakham. Police, yesterday, August 6, and brought her to Khon Kaen for questioning.

Kittiporn confessed to faking the kidnapping to obtain money from her parents to pay off her debt. However, details about the debt and its amount were not disclosed.

The fake kidnapping led to Kittiporn being charged under Section 14(1) of the Computer Act: importing false information into a computer system likely to cause public harm. The penalty is up to five years imprisonment and a fine of up to 100,000 baht.