Thai tomboy rescued from suicide attempt after call centre scam loss
A Thai tomboy attempted suicide in Pattaya after losing nearly 1 million baht to a call centre scam. Her mother claimed the police ignored the case for nearly a year.
The mother contacted officers from Mueang Pattaya Police Station and rescuers from the Sawang Borriboon Thammasathan Foundation to assist her 36 year old tomboy daughter, identified only as A, at their shared home in Soi 9, Arunothai, Pattaya. A lost a significant amount of blood and was unconscious.
Upon arrival, officers found A in the garage. She sustained stab wounds to her neck and abdomen, as well as a cut on her left ring finger. Bloodstains were visible from her bedroom leading to the garage.
The weapons she used to harm herself, a folding knife and a spoon and a fork, were found at the scene. Rescuers immediately transported her to Mueang Pattaya Hospital.
A’s mother told Channel 7 that the motive for the self-harm was the emotional distress following her loss to the call centre scam. Last year, A received a call from someone posing as a police officer, claiming she was involved in an illegal operation and had to transfer money for an investigation.
A transferred 800,000 baht to the scammers and kept the matter secret. The fraudsters later demanded more money, prompting A to borrow funds from a neighbour.
The neighbour grew suspicious and reviewed A’s conversation with the supposed police officer, eventually uncovering the scam.
According to A’s mother, she had been under severe stress since the incident. Although she reported the crime to the police, no progress was made, and officers allegedly failed to provide any updates.
A is not the only victim of such scams. A businesswoman in the Isaan province of Buriram recently lost 700,000 baht to call centre scammers impersonating electricity officials. The bank was reportedly unable to freeze the fraudulent account.
If you or anyone you know is in emotional distress, please contact the Samaritans of Thailand 24-hour hotline: 02 713 6791 (English), 02 713 6793 (Thai), or the Thai Mental Health Hotline at 1323 (Thai). Please also contact your friends or relatives at this time if you have feelings of loneliness, stress, or depression. Seek help.
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