Phuket Police Arrest 71-Year-Old Woman Linked to Multi-Million Baht Gambling Scam

Police in Phuket have arrested a 71-year-old Thai woman accused of participating in a gambling-related fraud scheme that allegedly cost one victim more than 9 million baht. Investigators say the suspect may also be connected to similar scams that have caused losses exceeding 64 million baht nationwide.

The woman, identified only as Sor, was taken into custody on August 20 in Phuket Town’s Talat Nuea area. Her arrest followed an investigation launched after a businesswoman reported being deceived by Sor and several accomplices.

According to police, the victim had advertised a plot of land in Phuket for sale at approximately 2 million baht. Members of the fraud network contacted her under the pretense of being interested buyers. Sor and a man identified as Dome gradually gained the woman’s trust before introducing her to other members of the group.

Investigators said the victim was later introduced to a woman named Hong, who presented herself as a wealthy investor with an interest in Fan Tan, a traditional gambling game involving the prediction of the number of seeds remaining after counting.

Another member of the group, known as Suea, allegedly persuaded the victim to participate in the game and convinced her that she had learned a reliable strategy for winning. During the initial rounds, the suspects reportedly staged losses to create the impression that the game was fair and that the victim could profit from it.

Believing she had an advantage, the woman began increasing the amounts she wagered. Police allege that the gang then manipulated the game by secretly altering the number of seeds, ensuring a predetermined outcome.

When the victim lost, members of the group reportedly accused her of causing the result and pressured her to cover the losses. Investigators say the suspects repeated the deception using different tactics until they had obtained more than 9 million baht from her.

After realizing she had been defrauded, the victim filed a complaint with Thalang Police Station, prompting a criminal investigation.

According to police records, Sor has allegedly been involved in similar schemes across Thailand for approximately 15 years. Authorities estimate that victims in multiple cases have suffered combined losses of more than 64 million baht.

The investigation remains ongoing as police work to identify and locate other members of the suspected fraud network.