More than 30 people have lodged a complaint with the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo), accusing a company deceiving them into buying hotel room coupons worth millions of baht at an annual travel fair in Bangkok.
Led by Chanakan Thaneeyakrit, the group assembled at the Amlo premises in Bangkok yesterday. They said they bought hotel room coupons from Tham Ngan Co at the 18th Thai International Travel Fair at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre between Feb 17-21.
Mr Chanakan said he bought six room coupons for a five-star hotel. The coupons, for which he paid 20,000 baht, were said to be valid for two years and did not specify accommodation dates. One condition was that he make his reservation through Tham Ngan Co, and not directly with the hotel.
On March 1, Mr Chanakan said, the firm told clients via email that it would shut down due to financial problems and it would make refunds in 30-45 days, on condition that each client provided his credit card number, a copy of his ID card and front page of his bank passbook.
Mr Chanakan said he wondered if the personal information could be abused.
He said he found through social networks that the company had sold hotel packages to 300 clients.
About 100 people lured by the company into buying hotel room coupons had since filed complaints to Amlo, he said.
Some clients paid 100,000 baht and many others lost 20,000-50,000 baht each, he said, adding damage was estimated at more than 2 million baht.
"I believe there are more people who are still unaware what they have lost," Mr Chanakan said.
Another complainant, Nathaworn Longkaeo, said he paid 20,000 baht to the firm last year. He received the same message, advising of its closure following his purchase of coupons.
Mr Nathaworn is calling on the Tourism Authority of Thailand to take action, saying a company that had earlier drawn complaints should not be allowed to return to the travel fair.
Amlo secretary Pairat Thespanit accepted the case, saying officials would decide if it is a money-laundering offence.