A network fighting pyramid schemes yesterday called on the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) to look into a new fraud case involving the sale of "whitening medicine".
Samart Jenchaijitawanit, president of the Stop Money Game association, said the DSI should accept the case for investigation following an apparent lack of progress by other agencies.
According to Mr Samart, at least 100 people claimed to have been fooled into joining the scheme which was estimated to have caused more than 100 million baht in damage.
Mr Samart was accompanied by several people who said they fell victim to the scam.
Waranthorn Tengdejkultorn, 20, said she lost almost 200,000 to the scheme which turned out to recruit members rather than sell any products.
She said she was contacted via Facebook by a pyramid scheme member who persuaded her to join a seminar on sales and marketing promotions.
When she went, she was told to pay an admission fee of 300 baht and persuaded to invest in a business selling collagen supplements known among the group as ya khao or "whitening medicine".
Collagen supplements are believed to make the skin firmer and whiter.
Ms Waranthorn was promised weekly profits of 5,000-10,000 baht plus an iPhone if she could meet sale targets. She ended up paying a total of 177,000 baht after being repeatedly persuaded to invest more.
"I urged my friends to join too. I received only 10,000 baht and an iPhone 7 Plus in return. I've filed a complaint with several agencies but to no avail while the pyramid scheme people are still trying to contact me," she said.
According to Ms Waranthorn, the group has no plans to sell collagen supplements but to recruit as many members as possible. She eventually threw away two boxes full of "white medicine".
DSI specialist Piyasiri Wattanawarangkur said a similar complaint was lodged recently and the agency would look into it.
