About 30 people on Thursday complained to the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) that a company lured them into buying worthless hotel room coupons worth millions of baht in total at an annual travel fair in Bangkok.
Most purchased the coupons from Tham Ngan Co at the 18th Thai International Travel Fair at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre between Feb 17 and 21.
Among the complainants at the Amlo premises in Bangkok, Chanakan Thaneeyakrit, said he had been enticed by the Tham Ngan kiosk into buying six room coupons for a five-star hotel.
The coupons for which he paid 20,000 baht were said to be valid for two years and did not specify accommodation dates. A condition was that he make his reservation through Tham Ngan Co, and not directly with the hotel.
On March 1, Mr Chanakan said, the firm informed clients via email that it would shut down due to financial problems and it would make refunds in 30-45 days, on the condition that each client provided their credit card number and a copy of their ID card and front page of their bank passbook.
He suspected if the personal information could be abused.
"I found through social networks that the company sold hotel packages to 300 clients... Damage was estimated at more than 2 million baht. Some clients paid 100,000 baht and many others lost 20,000-50,000 baht each.
"I believe that there are more people who are still unaware what they have lost," he said.
Nathaworn Longkaeo said he had paid 20,000 baht to the same firm last year, and subsequently received the same message, advising of its closure. He wondered why a company that had earlier drawn complaints was able to return to the travel fair. He wanted the Tourism Authority of Thailand to take action.
On receiving the complaint, Amlo secretary Pairat Thespanit said officials would review the information and decide if the case related to a money-laundering offence. He would also inform the police and the Office of the Consumer Protection Board of the issue.