Self-Styled Influencer Busted as Ringleader in Major Auto Theft Syndicate
BANGKOK — A man who once won acclaim for a university business project and styled himself as a successful influencer has been arrested for allegedly masterminding a large-scale vehicle theft operation targeting rental companies, Thai police announced on Thursday.
The suspect, Patarajarin Chanakham, 27, is accused of leading a gang that stole over 50 vehicles, mostly brand-new pickup trucks, using fraudulent business schemes. Three women identified as Mananchaya Chanput (36), Pornpan Pongpan (37), and Nawarat Tha-ai (42) were also arrested as accomplices.
According to senior highway police officials, Patarajarin built an online persona by showcasing luxury lifestyles and networking with social media celebrities. He used his social media following to lure potential accomplices, including the three women and an elderly business owner over the age of 70.
The gang reportedly posed as representatives of a chicken distribution company based in Nong Chok district, Bangkok, to deceive rental firms into supplying new Toyota Hilux Revo Prerunner pickups under long-term contracts. They used business registration documents from the elderly recruit to legitimize the deals.
Each gang member had a specific role: one woman acted as company director, another negotiated contracts, while the third handled bank transfers to give the appearance of a legitimate operation. Once the vehicles were received, another group—still at large—disabled the GPS tracking systems, triggering alarm among rental firms and leading to police complaints.
Officers later discovered 14 stolen trucks near the borders of Laos and Myanmar, worth an estimated 12 million baht. Patarajarin was arrested while trying to strike a deal for 10 additional vehicles.
Police believe the gang has been operating for at least two years, smuggling popular pickup models to neighboring countries where they fetch high resale prices. Authorities described the scheme as one of the most elaborate car rental scams in recent memory, involving a fully fabricated company and premeditated coordination.
