Five minutes of freedom
Kamolthep Lamphao, 29, walked out of Lamphun Provincial Prison on September 19—only to be instantly surrounded by waiting officers. Police from the Metropolitan Police and Mae Ai Station in Chiang Mai had positioned themselves outside the gates, swooping in as soon as he stepped into the open.
The reason? Multiple arrest warrants from various provinces, including Fang, Khon Kaen, and Kamphaeng Phet. Charges ranged from fraud to entering false information into computer systems. Some of these warrants stretch all the way back to 2023.
Temple scammer with a criminal record
During questioning, Kamolthep admitted what police had long suspected: he is a repeat offender with a very specific scheme. He created Facebook pages to sell products to temples—and vanished immediately after the payments went through.
“The money was for online gambling and entertainment,” he confessed. Since the age of 20, he has been imprisoned seven times for fraud. The media have already dubbed him the “Thousand-Face Thief” for his audacious cons and constant reinventions.
Police issue stern warning
Investigators are now sounding the alarm. “We advise all temples in northern and northeastern Thailand to review past transactions,” warned Police Lieutenant Colonel Yoschanin Prasertsopa. Victims are urged to report fraud so that the serial scammer’s activities can be fully stopped.
The police had meticulously planned the arrest, knowing precisely when Kamolthep would be released. He is now back in custody, facing investigation for both past and recent crimes. Authorities are continuing to gather evidence, expecting dozens more complaints. If confirmed, Kamolthep could be heading for his eighth prison sentence.