CHIANG RAI – Dozens of ethnic Akha villagers gathered at the Chiang Rai Provincial Hall on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, to file formal complaints against a 24-year-old local man who allegedly swindled them out of millions of baht.
The victims, primarily from the Mae Yao, Mae Fa Luang, and Mae Suai districts, claim the suspect promised them lucrative agricultural jobs in Israel and Portugal. However, after paying substantial “processing fees,” the villagers discovered the jobs did not exist, leaving many in deep debt.
The suspect, identified by victims as “Mr. Korn,” is a member of the same Akha community as those he allegedly targeted. According to statements given to local authorities, Korn used his shared background to build trust, convincing families that he had the connections to secure work permits and high-paying roles abroad.
The Chiang Rai Provincial Employment Office has launched a full investigation into the matter. Early findings suggest that the company Korn claimed to represent is not among the 114 licensed recruitment agencies authorized by the Ministry of Labour to send Thai workers overseas. Instead, officials found the entity was registered as a general tour operator, which has no legal authority to facilitate international employment.
How the Israel Job Scam Worked
The victims described a consistent pattern used by the broker to extract money:
- Initial Trust-Building:The broker visited villages personally, speaking the local dialect and sharing “success stories” of others who had supposedly moved abroad.
- The “Urgency” Fee:Victims were told they needed to pay between 50,000 and 100,000 baht immediately to secure a spot in a limited “quota” for Israeli farms.
- Fake Documentation:Several villagers were shown photos of what appeared to be visas and flight itineraries to Israel and Portugal, which later proved to be forgeries.
- The Disappearance:Once the money was transferred, the broker became increasingly difficult to reach, eventually cutting off communication entirely when the promised departure dates passed.
Government representatives in Chiang Rai are urging the public to be extremely cautious of individuals offering jobs via social media or personal connections. “In Chiang Rai alone, there are only seven legally registered companies authorized to handle overseas recruitment,” a provincial official stated during the press briefing.
To protect yourself from similar scams, the Department of Employment recommends:
- Verify the License:Check the official Department of Employment website to see if an agency is licensed.
- No Direct Cash Payments:Never hand over cash to an individual broker; legitimate fees should be paid through traceable bank transactions to a registered company.
- Contact 1506:If you are unsure about a job offer, call the Ministry of Labour’s 1506 hotline for immediate verification.
The victims have been instructed to submit all bank transfer slips, chat logs, and any forged documents to investigators within the next 48 hours. Authorities are currently tracking the suspect’s whereabouts, as he is believed to still be within the northern region of Thailand.
