Cheap online classes were used as a pretext to entice candidates who were later asked for more and more income.
A lawyer has expressed confidence that some stars serving as its professionals will be prosecuted for operating a pyramid scheme as The image Group, a well-known online business producer, has become the target of fraud problems.
More than 20 people on Thursday filed complaints with Consumer Protection Police Division ( CPPD ) investigators. They were accompanied by Raphatsit Phattarasirichaisin, a attorney and deputy president of a base fighting to regain social fairness.
One of the victims reported to reporters that she first saw The image Group’s website business course for 50 to 100 people with tuition costs of only 98 to 99 baht per student.
She was curious and applied. Business mentors told the individuals that while they could help investors make extra money, they had to spend 2,500 baht each to receive the goods after she had spent three days at the course. The coaches promised that the company may offer marketing strategies to promote the products.
Celebrities often showed up at occurrences promoting the agency’s company, said the girl. She met three stars and noted that they were called “bosses”, never product participants. To go each occasion, participants had to give 1, 500 baht.
The girl claimed that at first, she did not have enough money to invest in the company. One instructor advised her to get in touch with lenders to request extended lines of credit so she can invest more money and make hefty profits. She then poured all of the funds and saving she had borrowed from her credit accounts into the business.
She eventually learned that the funds she invested was not intended to be used to purchase goods to sell. Otherwise, she was ordered to pay for social media ads to inspire people to use to become dealers or customers. She may be charged for their hiring.
Finally, the girl grew cautious, as she and another had not been taught how to promote products but instead had been persuaded to attract people to invest.
She claimed that she had already incurred significant debt and that the goods she received from the company was no longer be sold.
Another target claimed that because he had invested more than 200 000 ringgit in borrowed funds, he had considered suicide.
According to Mr. Raphatsit, the 20 accusers constituted one in 500 people who were connected to the business.
He demanded that the police look into whether the company’s business model constituted a pyramid scheme or a form of common forgery.
Some victims had filed problems with police previously but there was no-follow-up, said the lawyer. Some people had contacted people they believed could have some effect in negotiating with image.
After the talks, the company returned 50 % of the money they had invested, but they had to sign paperwork that they would not report problems with police, said the lawyer.
The Office of the Consumer Protection Board had come to the conclusion that the company’s business model was not in violation of the law, according to Mr. Raphatsit.
But there must be a more rigorous investigation, said the lawyer. ( Story continues below )
Lawyer Decha Kittiwitthayanan, who is helping the forgery accusers, says some stars involved in the reported online fraud may be prosecuted. ( Photo supplied/Wassayos Ngamkham )
Celebrity attorney Decha Kittiwitthayanan likewise visited 10 admitted pyramid scheme victims on Thursday to file a complaint with the symbol Group.
He claimed that there was a good possibility that some famous people involved in the online industry may be charged. He declined to give them a brand.
The virtual organization in issue focuses on health products and features well-known professionals and artists such as Yuranunt” Sam” Pamornmontri, Kan Kantathavorn and Pechaya” Min” Wattanamontree.
The company, according to Thankhun Jitt-itsara, who likewise accompanied the sufferers, provided inaccurate information about its online business and inflated advertisements that swayed investors.
The company originally persuaded people to invest 97 ringgit per head for its purchase program in order to draw victims. For those who wanted to become dealers and form a sales staff with a guarantee of more income, the investment amounts steadily increased to 250, 000 ringgit per head, according to Mr. Thankhun.
Eventually, the company persuaded investors to make buy advertisements to attract more customers. On average, each man had at least 500, 000 ringgit in loss, he said. Thus far, about 500 people have sought legal aid from Mr Decha, said Mr Thankhun.
After news outlet Kanchai” Noom” Kamnerdploy made an admission to a scandal surrounding a well-known direct sales business that allegedly used prominent Thai celebrities as presenters to create a community and persuade customers to pursue investment opportunities, the case has sparked a social media stir.
Some people allegedly did n’t get the things that were promised or advertised.