Victims have approached lawyer Decha, claiming they were lured by a well-known company into an online business scheme, resulting in losses exceeding 500,000 baht. There are already 40 reported victims who are preparing to file complaints tomorrow.
As of October 9, 2024, reports indicate that an online business company operating as a distributor for health supplement products, led by many famous celebrities, is under scrutiny for potentially functioning as a pyramid scheme.
At the Lawyer Decha Assistance Office in Ram Inthra, a group of alleged victims filed complaints with Decha Kittivithayanun, seeking legal action after being deceived out of 500,000 baht.
Lawyer Decha stated that tomorrow (October 10, 2024) at 10:00 AM, he will accompany the 40 victims to file a complaint at the Consumer Protection Crime Suppression Division regarding the case against the company suspected of being a pyramid scheme. He has coordinated with the Royal Thai Police to gather victims for the initial investigation process.
Most victims initially joined marketing training sessions but ended up being encouraged to purchase products, which raises suspicions of investment solicitation and violations of the Direct Sales Act, possibly amounting to fraud.
A victim, Mrs. Wipharat, recounted how she became involved during the early COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when she had no income. She was approached via Facebook by a team leader of the company and, after being convinced of its legitimacy, she paid various fees totalling around 50,000 baht, believing it to be a promising business venture.
Mrs. Wipharat mentioned that throughout her time with the company, no proper sales methods were taught; the focus was only on recruiting more members. After approximately 5-6 months without significant sales, she felt her investment was wasted, losing over 500,000 baht.
After leaving the group, she realized the scheme was deceptive, targeting individuals to expand their network rather than genuinely selling products. Other products received were reported to be skin health items.
Another victim from Chiang Mai shared a similar experience, starting with a 2,500 baht membership fee and being pushed to invite others into the network, leading to stress and significant financial loss.
This article was rewritten from a Thairath’s news article.