A devoted fan of actress Patcharapa "Aum" Chaichua claims she was duped out of about 8 million baht by a former acquaintance of the star who said she needed money for medical bills.
Chayada Chinwanich and her brother Preecha, 50, filed a fraud complaint at Crime Suppression Division's sub-division 5 on Tuesday against Nakhon Si Thammarat clothing shop owner Patcharawat Khamhaeng.
Mr Preecha, a used car dealer with an outlet on Srinakarin Road in Bangkok, said that about six years ago Ms Chayada, who does his business accounting, became acquainted with Mr Patcharawat, who claimed to be a close friend of the model-turned-actress.
He took her to meet the superstar personally several times, causing his sister to trust Mr Patcharawat, he said.
Patcharapa "Aum" Chaichua said she has no knowledge of her name being used for a money swindle. (Bangkok Post file photo)
But on July 20, Mr Patcharawat told Ms Chayada that Aum was seriously ill and needed a lot of money to pay for her medical bills. He claimed the wealthy starlet asked him to seek a loan from Ms Chayada.
Ms Chayada initially transferred 100,000 baht to Mr Patcharawan's bank account in Nakhon Si Thammarat after he said the money would be sent to Aum.
Mr Patcharawat then requested money ten additional times, costing Ms Chayada about 8 million baht.
The victims told police Mr Patcharawat claimed Aum would pay Ms Chayada back in November, and then by the middle of next year.
Now suspicious, Mr Preecha said he called Aum and asked her about the money. The superstar said she had never been seriously sick and knew nothing about the money. She added that she lost contact with Mr Patcharawat a long time ago.
The brother and sister then went to police.
Pol Col Phumin Poompunmuang, chief of CSD sub-division 5, said he accepted the complaint for further investigation and would invite Aum in for questioning to get her assurance that she had never been seriously sick nor had asked Mr Patcharawat to borrow the money on her behalf.
Mr Patcharawat also will be summonsed for inquiry, he said.