Thai Man Arrested Over Alleged Scam Promising Lucrative Farm Work in Canada and Australia
Thai Man Arrested Over Alleged Scam Promising Lucrative Farm Work in Canada and Australia
BANGKOK, October 24, 2026 — Thai police have arrested a 29-year-old man accused of helping operate an overseas employment scam that allegedly defrauded more than 325 people of over 26 million baht by promising agricultural jobs in Canada and Australia.
The suspect, identified as Pasit, also known as Boss, was arrested in a sugarcane field behind a village in Saeng Sawang, Nong Saeng district, Udon Thani, on October 23. A second suspect, company director Watchara, is believed to have fled Thailand.
Police said the alleged scam targeted job seekers through a Facebook page called “Kaset Prathet Canada,” or “Agriculture Canada,” which advertised lucrative agricultural positions, including mushroom picking in Canada and grape harvesting in Australia.
Promised Salaries of Up to 200,000 Baht a Month
According to police, the advertisements offered monthly salaries ranging from 96,000 to 130,000 baht, with potential earnings of up to 200,000 baht during the wine-making season. Applicants were also promised free accommodation and welfare benefits.
Candidates were allegedly instructed to travel initially on tourist visas, with work visas to be arranged later. They were directed to an office in the Thung Song Hong area of Bangkok, where each applicant was asked to pay 79,900 baht for fees, visas and processing.
However, when applicants arrived for scheduled training and travel preparations in late September 2026, they found the company’s premises chained shut and were unable to contact its representatives, police said.
Suspect Denies Involvement in Fraud
The arrest was carried out following an order from Police General Natsak Cheawanasai, head of the Central Investigation Bureau, with officers from the relevant investigative units participating in the operation.
Pasit was wanted under Criminal Court warrant No. 5638/2569, dated September 25, 2026. The allegations against him include conspiring to deceive people by claiming he could arrange overseas training and employment, illegally advertising recruitment services, entering false information into a computer system likely to cause public harm, and public fraud.
During questioning, Pasit denied the allegations. He told police that Watchara, whom he described as a friend, had invited him to work for the company. He claimed his duties were limited to explaining application procedures to prospective applicants in exchange for occasional payments.
Pasit said he realised the company was in trouble after losing contact with Watchara. He also acknowledged fleeing after learning that an arrest warrant had been issued against him in a separate fraud case handled by the Chiang Rai Provincial Court.
Police subsequently transferred Pasit to investigators from Division 3 of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division for further legal proceedings.
The allegations remain subject to the legal process, and Pasit has denied wrongdoing.
