Brit, 70, says Thai ‘scammers’ have not handed over title deeds despite paying £346,000
I was scammed into handing over hundreds of thousands of pounds for a dream apartment in Thailand…that I still don’t own: Briton, 70, says ‘swindlers’ failed to hand over title deeds despite paying £346,000
- David Edward, 70, said he bought an apartment in Koh Samui in 2016 after a cold call
- At least five others were reportedly ‘swindled’ out of a total of £2.3 million
A British businessman says he was conned into handing over hundreds of thousands of pounds for an apartment in Thailand but was never given the title deeds, meaning he doesn’t legally own his dream retirement home.
David Edward, 70, said he received a cold call in 2016 from a real estate agent offering to sell him the apartment in the Chaweng Noi district of the idyllic island of Koh Samui.
The businessman said he paid the broker a five million baht (£115,300) down payment and the rest of the money would be paid upon completion of the sale – a total of 15 million baht (£346,000).
However, David said the agency has still not been able to transfer the title deeds or legal documents, meaning he has no title to the flat and has not been able to get his money back.
David, who has two young children, said he is not allowed to move to the island now and has lodged a complaint with the police and the Central Investigation Bureau in Bangkok. No arrests have yet been made.
David Edward, 70, said he received a cold call in 2016 from a real estate agent offering to sell him the apartment in the Chaweng Noi district of the idyllic island of Koh Samui.
David’s lawyer, Phattakorn Teepaboonrat, said at least five other victims, mostly foreigners unfamiliar with Thai laws, were allegedly defrauded by the company.
He said: ‘I am concerned about my property and also the property of others.
“I bought property in Thailand a long time ago when I was in Saudi Arabia and I would love to retire in Thailand, but I now have two young children and I have to do what is best for them.”
David claimed that the real estate agency had misled him about the status of the apartment building project on the beautiful island, which is a popular destination for tourists.
The company allegedly told him that the property was ready for transfer, but the father learned on April 19 that the complex actually had no planning permission.
David claimed to have found evidence that the company had defrauded other clients and even sold or mortgaged properties without their consent.
David and Thai consumer representative Phattakorn Teepaboonrat went to the Thai Central Investigation Bureau on June 1 to file his formal complaint against the company.
There are at least five other victims of the alleged scam, Mr Teepaboonrat claimed, most of whom are foreigners unfamiliar with Thai laws.
David has filed a complaint with the police and the Central Investigation Bureau in Bangkok, but no arrests have yet been made
David and consumer representative Phattakorn Teepaboonrat went to the Thai Central Investigation Bureau on June 1, 2023 to file a complaint
He said they had been defrauded by the company, claiming more than 100 million baht (£2.3 million) in damages.
The agency allegedly lured them with promises of tax exemptions before they falsified the title deeds.
Phattakorn said: ‘This company offered real estate projects for sale on its website, including title deeds and project photos, to establish reliability.
“My client bought two rooms for 15 million baht, and although he has already moved in, there has been no transfer of ownership.
“Legally he doesn’t own them, so he can never rent or sell them and can be removed at any time.”