Phuket Villa Agent Arrested After Russian Tourists Lose 2 Million Baht in Booking Scam

Police in Thailand’s Region 8 have arrested a Phuket-based woman suspected of defrauding tourists through a fake luxury villa rental scheme. The investigation began after Russian visitors reported transferring money for accommodation only to discover upon arrival that no reservations had been made in their names.

The suspect, identified as Thanaporn and also known as Yu, was arrested at around 6:00 a.m. on August 26 at a house in Thalang. Police have not released her surname.

The Russian tourists reportedly sought assistance from the Regional Centre for Combating Transnational Crime after being unable to resolve the matter themselves.

According to the victims, they contacted Thanaporn while planning their trips to Thailand. She presented herself as an agent representing several luxury villas in Phuket and sent prospective customers photographs and information about available properties. The tourists selected a villa in Cherng Talay and transferred payment before travelling to the island.

Thai authorities reported that one group of victims transferred 1.5 million baht, while another paid 500,000 baht. After arriving in Phuket, the tourists could no longer contact Thanaporn. When they contacted the villas directly, they were reportedly told that no bookings had been made under their names. It has not been established whether the two groups were connected or, for example, members of the same family.

The victims then attempted to recover their money and learned that the suspected agent was believed to be living in the Thepkrasattri area of Thalang. Police initially failed to locate her at the reported address.

Investigators subsequently suspected that the Russian tourists might not be her only victims. Following the tourists’ formal complaint, a criminal case was opened and an arrest warrant was issued.

A check of police records also revealed that Thanaporn was already wanted under three other arrest warrants related to similar fraud allegations.

On the morning of August 26, investigators from the Region 8 Police Investigation Division, together with Thalang police officers, went to the house where Thanaporn was believed to be staying based on intelligence information. Officers arrested her at the property.

Police have urged anyone else who believes they may have been defrauded by the woman to contact Thalang Police Station and file a complaint.

During an initial interrogation, Thanaporn reportedly admitted to other fraud incidents. Authorities estimate that she may have obtained approximately 5 million baht through the alleged scheme.