BANGKOK, THAILAND – A young Thai dancer and his girlfriend were reported missing in late February and were later believed to have fallen into the hands of a call‑centre fraud gang in a neighbouring country.
Missing persons report filed with local police
A 65‑year‑old relative, Suthep Phueanpharam, filed a complaint at Banmulnak Police Station on 1 March. He said his nephew Pongsakorn “Aon” Phueanpharam (25) and Aon’s girlfriend Panadda “Dream” Chokeboonrueang (23) had become unreachable.
According to the family, the couple had set off to pursue a job opportunity. For Dream, it was said to involve a position as a website administrator.
Job offer promised training and remote work
Relatives said the offer initially appeared legitimate, with training followed by the possibility to work from anywhere. They described how this promise of structured instruction and remote employment had reassured the couple.
This combination of “training” and supposed remote work had, for years, been regarded in the region as a typical gateway for cross‑border recruitment by criminal networks. Officials and media had repeatedly warned of similar schemes.
Bangkok hotel stay and limousine pick‑up
The news programme Puttha Talk, hosted by Phuttha Apiwan, reported that Aon and Dream had checked into a hotel in Bangkok on 24 February. The report said the couple did not pay for the stay themselves.
According to the programme’s own research, a limousine was said to have picked them up the following day. After that, contact with friends and family was cut off.
Entertainment circle joins search
Aon worked as a dancer for Thai singer Krit Boonyaliang, brother of Nipaporn “Kratae” Boonyaliang, known as Kratae R‑Siam. The case quickly resonated in entertainment circles.
Kratae said she had first learned of the disappearance from media reports. She explained that she, her brother and other crew members were now trying to support the family in their search for the couple.
Witness describes call-centre coercion in Cambodia
After the case drew wider attention online, a Thai woman named Wi came forward and said she had seen Aon and Dream in Cambodia when she herself had become entangled in a call‑centre scheme.
Wi recounted that she had responded to a job offer as a website administrator. She said she had been taken to an area near the border for alleged training, forced to cross the border illegally and then pushed to work for a fraud group.
Phone seized, bank accounts abused, release after suspensions
According to Wi, her mobile phone and personal documents were taken away. She said the perpetrators used her bank accounts to receive money from victims of their scams.
She stated that she was only released after her accounts were frozen over suspicious activity. At her last encounter, she said, Aon and Dream had appeared unharmed.
Authorities coordinate effort to bring couple home
The newspaper ThaiRath reported that responsible Thai agencies were coordinating with Cambodian authorities. Their aim was to secure the release of Aon and Dream from their presumed situation of coercion.
Officials were working to remove the pair from the alleged forced environment and bring them back home.