Today, a 31-year-old woman named Priyanuch was arrested in connection with an online investment scam involving cryptocurrency trading. After being interrogated, Priyanuch revealed that her husband had encouraged her to open six bank accounts for the scam and had subsequently taken his own life after learning that he was wanted by authorities.
Priyanuch, a mother of three children aged 13 years and two months, was apprehended at the Future Park Rangsit, Pathum Thani yesterday. Investigations conducted by Assistant Commissioner of the Police Crime Technology Division, Police Lieutenant General Damrongsak Kittiprapats, linked six bank accounts to the fraudulent cryptocurrency investment scheme, resulting in almost a million baht in damages.
Priyanuch admitted that in April 2020, her boyfriend, Madman Srisapetch, had convinced her to open six bank accounts for online investing. In May 2023, Madman committed suicide after finding out that he was wanted for fraud.
The scam promised investors high returns but did not deliver on withdrawals. In total, victims suffered losses of 537,229 baht (US$ 15,522) in one case and 269,512 baht (US$ 7,787) in another. Investigating officers coordinated with the suspect’s family to care for the children and provided them with 2,000 baht (US$ 58) in initial expenses before handing Priyanuch over to Saimai investigators to proceed with the case.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Theeradet Thammasuthi warned criminals that they cannot escape the law and urged anyone with information about wrongdoing to report it through the Inquiry Citywide IDMB page, available 24 hours a day. He stressed that even though the cases were of limited financial impact, the police would take immediate action if the public were affected, following the policy of Police Lieutenant General Damrongrak.
A week ago, a Chinese national and 12 of his accomplices were arrested in Chiang Rai for their involvement in an online scam operation. Police from Provincial Police Region 5 and the Immigration Bureau made the arrests after receiving a tip-off about the gang’s activities in Chiang Rai City.
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 reach out to your friends and relatives if you are feeling lonely, stressed or depressed. It is important that you seek help.
