A Thairath News feature is circulating online of an alleged “Mark John”, of Filipino nationality, deceiving a 61-year-old Thai woman into giving up her savings summing up to more than 400,000 baht.
The victim, Ms. Kung, 61 years old, recalled what she had to go through and how she lost the said amount. She said that they began communicating in October 2024 when a man messaged her on Facebook, introducing himself as Mark John, a 58-year-old Filipino working in real estate.
By November 2024, “Mark John” promised to send her $25,000 along with diamond jewelry – a necklace, rings, and a watch. When the package supposedly arrived in Thailand, she was told that it required the couple to pay 200,000 baht in customs fees. Ms. Kung paid 40,000 baht of it while “Mark John” offered to pay the remaining cost, however, the package never arrived. “Mark John” claimed that he was flying into Thailand to meet her, only to “have been detained at the airport.” The alleged suspect said that senior airport police officials are threatening his life unless a fine is paid. Ms. Kung desperately borrowed money from family and friends amounting to 400,000 baht, in order to save “Mark John”.
On February 19, 2025, Ekkapop Lueangprasert of the “Saimai Must Survive” page, issued a warning to the elderly of such scams.
Accordingly, Ekkapop warned that Ms. Kung had fallen victim to a romance scam. Ms. Kung is still convinced today that “Mark John” is real and is coming to see her. Ekkapop now plans to help Ms. Kung and file a police report in attempts to recover her funds. Ekkapop urged the public to not judge Ms. Kung but is seeking for understanding instead of criticism.
See the Thairath News here.
Additional source and translation https://www.facebook.com/groups/737061589746261/?multi_permalinks=9127031390749197&ref=share