Thai food stall owner shocked by 50 million baht electricity bill

An electricity bill of 50 million baht shocked a Thai food stall owner in the central province of Chachoengsao. Locals in the area suspect an electricity scam.

The stall owner, Sombat, told Kom Chad Luek yesterday, August 5, that he found the electricity bill in the mailbox outside his home, which also serves as a food stall. This was despite having already paid this month’s bill of approximately 1,000 baht.

Sombat explained that he does not have a smartphone or mobile banking app, so he went to a grocery shop for help with the payment. The grocery shop owner was shocked upon seeing the amount of the bill.

The electricity fee shown on the app was 50,000,069.48 baht. Both Sombat and the shop owner checked the bill and noticed it looked slightly different from previous bills.

The bill was horizontal instead of vertical, but the other information seemed legitimate, including Sombat’s name, address, and electricity fee. It also stated that Sombat had missed a payment, which he denied.

Sombat told the media that the shop owner and other locals believed the bill was counterfeit, sent by a scam gang. They urged Sombat to ignore the bill and share the story as a warning.

As of now, the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), responsible for electricity distribution and service in the province, has not yet addressed the issue.

The same scam was reported in March this year, with many Thai victims taking to social media to warn others. One woman revealed she unwittingly paid the fake bill. Another victim disclosed that she paid the fake bill before all her savings were transferred to the scammers.

Each victim urged people to check the colour and pattern of electricity bills before making payments, noting that the fees on fake bills are usually higher than usual.