Abandoned by her boyfriend, a trans woman in Thailand takes revenge by cheating 73 Japanese men out of 73.35 million rupees

A transgender woman in Thailand has been arrested for orchestrating an elaborate fraud scheme that targeted Japanese men and defrauded them of nearly 30 million baht (about Rs. 7.35 crore). According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP)Thai police launched an investigation after a Japanese man visiting Thailand reported that a transgender woman named Amy had defrauded him of 15 million baht. Police revealed that she posed as a tourist in Thailand and lied and manipulated men to gain their sympathy. She also confessed that her elaborate scams were motivated by a deep-seated desire for revenge against Japanese men, stemming from a personal betrayal years ago.

During the investigation, police discovered that the 36-year-old Japanese man had met the woman, who was using the alias “Amy,” in Thailand in January. According to SCMPShe posed as a tourist from Hong Kong who had lost her passport and purse and borrowed money from the man to pay for a hotel. The two exchanged contact information and quickly began an intimate relationship. The man then lent her money for insurance and medical expenses, but she never paid him back.

The trans woman also persuaded the man to buy gold for her, which she exchanged for cash before she disappeared, police said.

On August 4, the woman, whose real name is Uthai Nantakhan, was arrested in Bangkok. Police said she posed as a tourist and manipulated and lied to men to gain sympathy. She claimed she had lost her wallet and needed money to renew her passport, or pretended to have contracted Covid to get money for treatment. She also lured men to invest in bogus companies, later claiming the projects had failed and making off with their investment funds.

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Police determined that the woman’s victims were all Japanese citizens. She told police that her Japanese boyfriend had left her years ago and that the pain and torment had led her to pursue a life of crime.

“When I was in college, my Japanese boyfriend left me while we were traveling and left me to pay all the bills. I was heartbroken,” she said. “Also, another Japanese man I was dating before cheated me out of money. I really hate Japanese people and wanted revenge on Japanese men,” she added.

During the investigation, police found that the woman had defrauded 73 Japanese men of nearly 30 million baht between 2011 and 2024. If convicted, she faces up to three years in prison and a maximum fine of 60,000 baht.