# Woman Arrested in Connection to $186 Million Romance Scam Tied to Essilor Thailand

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/crime/192901-thai-woman-apprehended-for-connection-to-186-million-romance-scam-linked-to-essilor-manufacturing-thailand
- Published: 2025-02-08T10:31:16+07:00
- Author: Boris Sullivan

The arrest of a 52-year-old Thai woman named Orathai at Hat Yai International Airport
in Thailand is allegedly connected to Thailand’s largest romance scam, which involved
stealing 6.3 billion baht (US$186 million) from a multinational company in 2022.
The scam used a fake LinkedIn profile of a US army doctor to deceive the company’s
CFO.

 * A Thai woman was arrested for her alleged involvement in Thailand’s largest romance
   scam, which defrauded a company of 6.3 billion baht.
 * The suspect claims she opened bank accounts for her Nigerian partner, unaware
   they would be used for fraudulent activities.
 * The scam involved a fake LinkedIn profile of a US army doctor to deceive a multinational
   company’s CFO in Thailand.

Orathai was arrested on multiple charges, including involvement in a criminal association
and money laundering. She confessed to opening several bank accounts in Thailand
at the request of her Nigerian partner, claiming she was unaware of their fraudulent
use. Investigators found financial links between her accounts and companies involved
in the scam.

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Nearly 100 arrest warrants were issued for Thai and Nigerian nationals in connection
with this case, and efforts to apprehend suspects are ongoing. Orathai had been 
living in Malaysia since 2017, where she met her Nigerian partner, and was arrested
upon returning to Thailand to visit her child.

 * A CFO at Essilor Manufacturing in Thailand was tricked by a romance scam into
   transferring 6.3 billion baht from company accounts to fraudsters.
 * The scam involved a fictitious US soldier and was orchestrated by a transnational
   criminal gang, leading to arrests of multiple individuals in Thailand and Malaysia.
 * EssilorLuxottica SA is suing JPMorgan Chase for allegedly failing to properly
   monitor the account and prevent the fraudulent transactions.

The high-profile fraud case involving Essilor Manufacturing (Thailand) came to light
when the company’s CFO, Chamanan Phetporee, fell victim to a romance scam, leading
to the transfer of 6.3 billion baht (approximately $186 million) to fraudulent accounts.
The scam was orchestrated by a transnational criminal gang that fabricated the identity
of a fictitious U.S. soldier named “Andrew Chang.” Over a six-month period in 2019,
Chamanan conducted more than 250 fund transfers to 128 accounts spread across 70
banks in 17 countries.

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The investigation, led by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), resulted in the
arrest of 21 Thais and two Nigerians, with four more Nigerian suspects still at 
large. Another company employee, Sakchai Boonsuya, was also arrested for co-signing
the transfers. The case is considered one of the largest romance scams in history.

Essilor has managed to recover some funds, including $10 million from accounts in
Tonga. The company has also sued JPMorgan Chase & Co for allegedly failing to properly
monitor the account and prevent the fraudulent transactions.