Thai victims lose over 100 million baht to ‘blue elephant’ flight booking scam
Nearly 100 victims collectively lost over 100 million baht to a flight booking platform featuring a blue elephant logo. The victims neither received their tickets nor were refunded their money.
Ten representatives of the victims visited the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) yesterday, December 2, after their complaints were ignored for a prolonged period despite the substantial financial losses. They gathered a list of affected people and presented it to officials, hoping the case would finally be addressed.
One of the representatives, Kittisak, revealed in a press conference that he discovered the booking platform while searching for affordable flight tickets on Google. The platform was suggested by Google, prompting him to visit the site.
Kittisak explained that he was drawn to the platform due to its lower prices. However, he was initially sceptical about its reliability, so he conducted additional research. The platform was operated by a travel agency with an office in the Rama IX area of Bangkok.
The agency was legally registered and provided clear contact information. Its website also featured numerous client reviews, which boosted Kittisak’s confidence. He subsequently booked four tickets for a flight from Bangkok to Austria, costing 257,273 baht.
The tickets were supposed to be delivered to his home within 15 days, but he never received them. Upon contacting the airline directly, he discovered that the agency did not transfer the payment to the airline, making the bookings invalid.
Kittisak later received a letter from the booking platform, stating that the agency was experiencing liquidity issues and promising a refund within 90 days. However, no refund was ever issued.
Kittisak reported the matter to the local police, but the case made no progress. Some victims previously approached the CSD, only to be redirected to the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB). The CCIB, in turn, instructed them to return to the CSD, leaving the victims frustrated and disheartened.
Determined to draw attention to their plight, the victims began rallying others affected by the scam to increase the pressure on officials. Meanwhile, the platform continues to operate as normal, despite nearly 100 users falling victim to the scam.
As of now, there has been no clarification or action from the agency or from the CSD and CCIB officers, who are expected to oversee the case.
