Neighbor Defrauds Victims of Millions in Fake Land Deal
A neighbor in Kamphaeng Phet defrauded two women by inventing excuses such as land sales, legal fees and medical costs to trick them into transferring millions of baht. The victims report losses of at least 2 million baht each, with total damages possibly reaching 10 million baht, and have filed a police complaint. Authorities are investigating the money trail and possible additional victims.
On October 18, 2069, reporters received information from Thikhamporn, 58, and Jidapa, 63, residents of Mueang Kamphaeng Phet district. They said they suffered losses after transferring money to acquaintances who gave various reasons such as selling land, legal proceedings, medical expenses and other costs. According to initial information, Thikhamporn filed a criminal complaint against a 38‑year‑old neighbor and another possibly involved person on October 1, 2069. Police Lieutenant Susun Semachim of Mueang Kamphaeng Phet Police Station accepted the complaint for legal action. The victims said the incidents began in July 2069 in Moo 3, Angthong Subdistrict, Mueang Kamphaeng Phet district.
Thikhamporn explained that before the incident the neighbor owed her about 180,000 baht. When she demanded repayment, the neighbor claimed he would use money from selling a friend’s land to settle the debt, offering to handle the title transfer and sale. He said there were processing costs and asked her to transfer money in installments, promising repayment. Trusting him, she sent money several times.
Later the neighbor claimed the land was disputed because the seller’s wife’s relatives objected and demanded rights, increasing legal fees. He then asked for 40,000–50,000 baht per occasion.
Thikhamporn said the neighbor later claimed he was being pursued by police, fled into the forest, was shot and needed money for medical treatment and other expenses. Despite the changing stories, she continued to send money hoping to be repaid.
The neighbor then said he had sold the land, but the buyer—a teacher—had to pay off existing debts before releasing funds from a teachers’ savings cooperative. He added that he needed to pay taxes to the Revenue Department before accessing the money.
When she transferred money as requested, new obstacles arose: the neighbor said he had to give the money to someone in a forest because he was hiding from the seller’s wife’s relatives, that the money was stained with blood from a shooting and needed to be “cleaned” through an agency, and that her bank account was blocked or had problems requiring additional fees to fix.
Thikhamporn said she began to suspect fraud when each time she seemed close to getting her money back, a new excuse and expense appeared. She found that many details the neighbor gave did not match reality.
Most of the money she sent was her savings and proceeds from selling her own land, often transferred to accounts of the neighbor’s brother or other acquaintances as he directed. She urged authorities to trace the money flow thoroughly.
Thikhamporn estimates her loss is at least 2 million baht and believes there may be many other victims in similar situations, with total damages possibly reaching 10 million baht, pending financial evidence and further testimony.
Jidapa, 63, a retired civil servant, said she experienced the same pattern: starting with a debt, being asked to transfer money for various reasons, and ultimately losing about 8 million baht.
