Puntid Tantivangphaisal
A Thai woman, Pachareeya, was arrested at a well-known shopping mall in Phasi Charoen, Bangkok, for allegedly defrauding more than 30 people by promising them lucrative jobs in Australian vineyards. Each job seeker paid between 120,000 and 170,000 baht, but none were sent to Australia.
The operation, led by Police Major General Montri Teskan, resulted in Pachareeya’s apprehension under an arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court on May 20, 2015. She faces charges of making false statements to obtain property and conspiring to send individuals abroad for work without proper authorization.
In 2015, several victims reported the scam to the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) after losing significant amounts of money. They were promised positions in Australian vineyards with monthly salaries of up to 50,000 baht, but these promises never came to fruition. Following the complaints, investigators collected evidence and secured arrest warrants for three individuals connected to the scheme.
Authorities later learned that Pachareeya had fled Thailand in 2015 and had not returned through official channels. However, intelligence indicated she had re-entered the country illegally and was working at the mall in Phasi Charoen. This information led to her capture at a product exhibition booth within the shopping center.