The Crime Suppression Division (CSD) has been asked to track down an online game developer who allegedly scammed more than 50 million baht from 30 investors and then fled.
The victims said Win Pornpipat, an online game developer who is behind the virtual corn harvesting game called Sweet Corn, had asked people to invest in her company, said Pol Cpt Nantipad Pangdee, the sub-inspector of CSD sub-division 1.
One of the victims, Siwapat Worawatkitti, said she met Ms Win at a seminar on gender reassignment surgery at a renowned hospital in Thon Buri three years ago.
"At that time, Ms Win, who is a post-operative trans woman herself, was working as the hospital's public relations officer and invited me and several others to invest in the game, promising good returns," said Ms Siwapat.
She said investors were told that Sweet Corn had a great earning potential as players were spending a lot on the platform's online store, where they can buy and sell items that can be used to get ahead in the game.
Ms Siwapat said she invested 500,000 baht and received dividends for two months, but then Ms Win severed all contact and simply disappeared.
"I tracked her down and found out most of her stories were lies," she said.
"She said she went on these overseas trips and even showed us pictures as proof, but it turns out the pictures were taken in Thailand."
One of the victims told police that Ms Win had since confessed of cooking up the investment plan and had squandered all of their money, said Pol Capt Nantipad.
Ratchapol Sirisakorn, a lawyer for the victims, said up to 300 victims were duped to invest in Sweet Corn, with total losses exceeding 50 million baht.
"One victim had a stroke after learning she had been scammed," Mr Ratchapol explained.
