Fake Cheap Airline Ticket Scam Exposed: Victims Lose Millions Through Fraudulent Website
A fraudulent airline ticket scheme has bilked victims of at least 30 million baht, with over 100 people deceived through a fake website offering discounted fares that were later cancelled, leaving customers unable to claim refunds.
On May 15, 2025, Thanya Jittisuree, chairman of the Democracy Club, brought a group of fraud victims to file complaints with investigators at the Consumer Protection Police Bureau, exposing a scheme involving fraudulent sales of discounted airline tickets allegedly offered by major carriers. The total damages amount to approximately 30 million baht.
One victim, 42-year-old Mr. Ote (pseudonym), revealed that he originally knew the perpetrator personally and had successfully purchased airline tickets twice before, which built his trust. Later, the perpetrator offered to sell him tickets at below-market prices and pressured him to upgrade from economy to business class, claiming that without the upgrade, the original tickets would be invalid, but promising a full refund within two weeks.
Ote stated that he transferred money multiple times for seat upgrades as instructed, losing over 2.5 million baht for flights to Japan. However, when his return date arrived, the tickets could not be used, and the promised refund never materialized. The perpetrator then claimed that to issue new tickets, he must first pay outstanding balances from the "old deal," leading Ote to transfer an additional 2.5 million baht before discovering all tickets had been cancelled.
Ote noted that during the booking process, the website displayed what appeared to be an official airline website with complete booking numbers and passenger names, creating false credibility. Most transfers were sent to personal accounts, suspected to be "mule accounts," with the perpetrator claiming corporate accounts couldn't be used due to tax issues. Initially, the scheme worked with real flights, generating word-of-mouth referrals. The victim group now numbers over 100 people.
Some victims had previously filed reports with Ratchaburi City Police, but with no progress, they approached the Consumer Protection Police for investigation. Thanya called on relevant agencies to urgently and seriously investigate this ongoing scam, warning that more victims may fall prey as similar fraud continues unabated.
