As investigators look for more pyramid scheme evidence, full complaints reach 3, 000.
PUBLISHED: 19 Oct 2024 at 14: 17
A group of 40 Thai nationals and foreigners who live abroad have accused The sign Group of not fulfilling their payments, which has caused loss of 20 million baht, and the total number of complaints against the online company promoter is close to 3, 000.
Itthidet Thanetwattana, a representative of the Thai and foreign victims, arrived at the Bangkok Central Investigation Bureau ( CIB ) on Saturday to lodge a complaint with the Consumer Protection Police Division ( CPPD).
He brought files that included records for payments of sign goods, images of stores that had ordered goods for sale worldwide, and images of some victims having their photos taken with the founder and CEO of The image Group, Waraphon” Boss Paul” Waratyaworrakul, taken.
Mr Itthidet said the 40 subjects — 20 in Asia and 20 people in Europe — lost at least 20 million ringgit. They are living in China, Hong Kong, Macau, Italy, Germany, Canada, Estonia and Luxembourg.
He claimed that the majority of the people he represented just placed orders for products for sale and did not want to be sellers in the company’s business network. They transferred money to buy merchandise, but none of them were delivered.
The majority of the subjects were women who frequently placed orders for Thai goods to be sold there. They were attracted by the image advertisements on Facebook featuring its star “bosses”, who inspired confidence in the organization,  , said Mr Itthidet.
He claimed that some patients had encounters with Mr. Warathaphon and different famous people while traveling abroad. ( Story continues below )
Thailand’s and international victims ‘ representatives are requesting that Thailand’s Prime Minister, Pol Maj Gen Prinya Pala, assistant research commander of the Consumer Protection Police Division sub-division 1, submit documents detailing the allegations of investment fraud. ( Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham )
One Thai lady in Hong Kong had given the business more than one million baht to acquire protein, coffee, and coconut powder. Just some materials were delivered. She tried to contact an adviser who had enticed her into investing with the company, but the adviser denied any duty, said Mr Itthidet. Some victims did not receive any goods after sending money.
He said Chinese and other unusual patients were worried about contact constraints, as well as travel costs, that made it hard to follow up their problems. They perhaps authorise family or friends in Thailand to give their claims to police authorities, said Mr Itthidet.
In the meantime, The symbol Group’s overall quantity of complainants is growing. A full of 2, 910 people have complained to the police about the company’s operations from October 10 through Saturday for allegedly running a pyramid system that has resulted in overall costs of 911 million baht.
On Saturday, 85 people filed concerns over loss of 29 million ringgit.
Mr Warathaphon, 41, and 17 other suspects, including artists, were arrested on Wednesday on charges of common scams and inputting phony details into a computer program. They have denied all the expenses.
The majority of parole applications were rejected, but three did. All 18 offenders — 11 people and seven people — have been remanded in prison.
More victims converge on the Central Investigation Bureau on Saturday to lodge complaints against The image Group. ( Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham )