Arrest of Former Thai Korean Girl Group Member After 80 Billion Won Fraud and 2-Year Manhunt

Thai YouTuber Natthamon Khongchak Captured After Two Years of Flight

As reported by the South China Morning Post on October 31st (local time), Thai YouTuber Natthamon Khongchak, who had been evading authorities for two years, was apprehended in Indonesia and extradited back to Thailand due to her involvement in fraudulent activities.

Details of the Capture

On October 25, during her stay in Indonesia, Natthamon attempted to obtain a passport using false identification while posing as a local resident alongside her mother. Her actions raised suspicions among immigration officials after a report was filed, leading to her capture and subsequent extradition to Thailand.

Rise to Fame and Fraud Scheme

Previously engaged in the South Korean entertainment industry under the name Dream Cinema, Natthamon returned to Thailand after experiencing limited success. However, she soared to popularity on YouTube, attracting a following of over 800,000 fans with her cover videos of well-known K-pop acts like BLACKPINK and BTS.

Leveraging her online fame, Natthamon initiated a fraudulent investment scheme that reportedly victimized around 6,000 individuals with total losses estimated at around 2 billion baht (roughly 81.4 billion won). Presenting herself as a so-called “foreign exchange investment expert,” she offered investment opportunities that promised unrealistically high returns — such as 25% in three months, 30% in six months, and a remarkable 35% monthly return for a year.

Threats and Evasion

When investors questioned the lack of returns, Natthamon dismissed these concerns as mere “transaction errors.” She infamously threatened her investors, asserting that if they reported her to authorities, they would face severe financial repercussions, including the loss of their invested funds.

Legal Consequences and Current Situation

In 2022, Natthamon fled to Indonesia with her mother to escape justice. While attempting to apply for a passport for overseas travel, her unusual accent prompted immigration officials to question her about local matters, including the Indonesian constitution. Her inability to provide convincing answers led to her arrest.

Thai authorities have since seized assets valued at approximately $470,000 (around 648 million won) from Natthamon’s operations and are investigating further asset flows related to her activities. If convicted of fraud under Thai law, she could face a prison sentence of up to 20 years.

For more details, refer to the source: Daum

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