An ex-lawyer has been arrested in Samut Prakan for allegedly swindling victims in a romance scam by means of a courting app, police said on Saturday.

Pongsakorn Supakornmongkolchai, 43, was as soon as caught in front of a gold store on Sukhumvit Avenue in tambon Sam Rong Nua of Muang district on Friday. The arrest was as soon as made jointly by police cyber taskforce unit 5 and the Metropolitan Police Bureau’s Investigation Division.

The probe was as soon as launched when a victim sought lend a hand from national police chief Pol Gen Damrongsak Kittiprapas after she claimed to were duped out of 1.51 million baht in a romance scam.

Police said the victim met the suspect who presented himself as “Tom” or “Thanet”, with a merely-searching profile image by means of the Bumble courting app. After chatting online, the suspect learnt the victim suffers from depression.

Mr Pongsakorn exploited her signs by demanding she own sex alongside with his father, additionally a suspect below investigation, if she wanted to retain the connection. Later, the 2 met at a resort in tambon Sam Rong Nua from Jan 6-19. The victim was as soon as duped into investing in alternate scams and additionally told to promote her automobile to fund additional investments.

Pol Gen Damrongsak advised Pol Maj Gen Theeradet Thammasuthee, commander of the MPB’s Investigation Division who additionally acts as PCT unit 5 chief, to work with a crime prognosis group. Pol Maj Gen Theeradet said the victim has been assessed to be a suicide risk.