BANGKOK, THAILAND – A woman from Khon Kaen said she lost her savings and fell into debt after a man she met on a dating app allegedly cheated her out of about 800,000 baht and then married someone else.
Online romance turned alleged fraud
The woman, identified only as “Ploy”, met the man on a dating app and later continued chatting with him on Facebook. After four months of online contact, they met in person on 28 December. He appeared charming and promised her lifelong love and even marriage, and she said she trusted him completely before the first pleas for help began.
Mounting requests and sale of family land
The man claimed he was in debt to moneylenders and feared for his life if he did not pay, prompting her to transfer money out of sympathy. The stories escalated as he later said his motorcycle had been seized and he needed funds to retrieve it so he could go to work, followed by claims that his house and a plot of land were close to foreclosure, with the requested amounts growing rapidly. Ploy borrowed from her father and relatives and took out a bank loan, transferring in total around 800,000 baht.
Facebook discovery of another wedding
Her life collapsed when she browsed Facebook and found wedding photos showing the man marrying another woman. The person who had constantly presented himself as being in financial distress was suddenly seen living in a large house and driving an expensive car.
“He enjoys a comfortable life while I am left with debts,”
said Ploy, the alleged victim.
Warning to other women using dating apps
The experience led her to a harsh conclusion.
“There is no true love in dating apps.”
said Ploy, who issued a strong warning to other women about such romance scams. She said her case should serve as a tragic reminder for anyone seeking love in the digital age.
Lawyer sees difficult path to justice
Ploy travelled from Khon Kaen to Nonthaburi to seek help from lawyer Ronnarong Kaewphet, who was set to review all transfers and available evidence. According to him, pursuing justice would not be straightforward.
“Cases of romantic fraud are often complex. It is difficult to hold the perpetrators accountable,”
said Ronnarong, the lawyer. He noted that the identities of alleged scammers were often falsified or the money had already disappeared, leaving victims with deep emotional and financial scars.
Experts urge vigilance on dating platforms
Experts recommended extreme caution when dealing with contacts made through dating apps, stressing that any request for money, regardless of how dramatic the story sounds, is a clear red flag. They advised meeting in person early on in a public place and checking the other person’s profile carefully, including whether their photos might be stolen. Ploy said she would never forget the lesson, describing her case as a warning about how words, promises and feigned fear can become a dangerous weapon in modern relationships.