Restaurant Owner Conned by Female Gang in Shop Takeover Scam
A Chonburi restaurant owner lost 120,000 baht when a female gang leased her shop, borrowed from multiple unlicensed lenders using her business name, then fled, leaving her pursued by debt collectors in Phan Thong District.
Chonburi — A restaurant owner was victimized by a fraudulent female gang that tricked her into leasing the shop, collected an 8,000-baht deposit, then borrowed 120,000 baht from multiple unlicensed lenders using the restaurant's name before fleeing. The original owner is now being pursued by debt collectors.
September 21, 2026 — CCTV footage from a casual food restaurant in Phan Thong District, Chonburi, recorded a group of women entering the premises and negotiating a shop lease, eventually signing documents and depositing 8,000 baht. According to the original owner, after the group began operating the restaurant normally, it was discovered they had borrowed money from approximately nine unlicensed lenders totaling around 120,000 baht before removing goods and vanishing.
Nattaya, 39, the original restaurant owner in Phan Thong District, Chonburi, along with her girlfriend, presented documentation and CCTV images to seek justice through the media, alleging that a group of individuals contacted her to lease the business, then created debt and fled, leaving her harassed and pursued by creditors.
Nattaya revealed that before the incident, she had advertised the shop lease on social media. On September 17, 2026, a group of people came to inquire about leasing the business. A 35-year-old woman from Ubon Ratchathani province led the negotiations, and they agreed on a 150,000-baht lease price.
On that day, the group deposited 8,000 baht, claiming they only had that amount on hand and would bring the remainder on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. Trusting them, the owner allowed the group to trial-operate the restaurant. Initially, everything proceeded normally with regular food service, so the owner had no reason to suspect anything.
However, after September 19, the owner discovered that the group had removed goods and left the premises, becoming unreachable.
Nattaya then claimed that unlicensed lenders began arriving to demand repayment of loans made to the group. Upon investigation, she learned that during their time at the restaurant, the group had borrowed money from approximately nine unlicensed lenders totaling around 120,000 baht, using the restaurant as a reference point for their occupation, before leaving the area.
This incident caused the original owner significant hardship, as creditors repeatedly came looking for the borrowers at the restaurant, and calls to the phone number provided in the documents went unanswered.
Nattaya stated that she has filed a report with investigators at Phan Thong Police Station for fact-checking and legal action, submitting documents and CCTV footage as evidence.
The owner urged business operators and those advertising shop leases or rentals to thoroughly verify the identity documents and personal information of prospective tenants, ensure full payment according to contract terms before handing over the premises, and prevent similar incidents. She also requested that anyone with information about the group contact Phan Thong Police to assist in the investigation and pursue legal action.
