CHIANG RAI – Central Investigation police officers have arrested two men in Chiang Rai who posed as a famous actress online, catfished a victim into a sexual video call, recorded it, and then tried to blackmail the victim for 1 million baht. The suspects had already extracted more than 640,000 baht before the victim reported the crime.
On Wednesday, police located the suspects in Mai Ya, Phaya Mengrai district, Chiang Rai. The men, aged 43 and 30, were detained on warrants for extortion, membership of a criminal association, conspiracy, and money laundering.
Police investigators found that one victim had contacted a social media account that used images of a well-known actress. After several chats, the account holder persuaded the victim to take part in a video call. The call was recorded without consent, then used to coerce the victim.
The scammers demanded 1 million baht and threatened to send the clip to all of the victim’s Facebook contacts. They also contacted the victim using a Facebook profile named PORNPIMOL NAMFON and a Line account named Nomfon, sending a copy of the clip as proof.
Fearing exposure, the victim transferred money four times, 320,000 baht to an account in the name of the 30-year-old suspect and 320,000 baht to an account in the name of the 43-year-old suspect, a total of more than 640,000 baht.
The pair tried to demand more, so the victim filed a complaint with TCSD Division 3, which prompted a wider search. Officers traced the suspects to Phaya Mengrai and made the arrest. Both men have been handed over to TCSD Division 3 investigators to face legal action.
Thailand’s fast-growing digital economy, with more than 50 million internet users in 2025, has become a magnet for cybercrime. This mirrors global patterns, where such offences are expected to cost $10.5 trillion by year’s end.
High smartphone use and a surge in e-commerce, fuelled by platforms like LINE, Facebook, and TikTok, have opened the door to scams, data breaches, and identity fraud.
Among these threats, catfishing stands out. It is a romance scam in which criminals build fake personas to manipulate victims, both emotionally and financially.
In 2025, the Thai government has stepped up with new laws and cross-border partnerships. The problem is still huge, with losses from fraud between 2022 and 2024 topping $2 billion.
Catfishing, also called “catphishing”, involves posing as an appealing partner to gain trust, then extracting money or data. In Thailand, it is rife on dating apps such as Tinder and Badoo, and across social media. Both locals and foreigners are targeted.
Scammers often use stolen photos of models or celebrities. They spin stories of hardship abroad to seek money for emergencies, such as medical bills or travel. Victims, often women aged 20 to 25 or elderly online shoppers, suffer more than financial loss. Many report severe distress, anxiety, and PTSD.
