Fraud & Embezzlement
The line between being defrauded and a mere breach decides criminal or civil, and the complaint window is just 3 months.
Not every lost baht is fraud. The crime turns on deception with dishonest intent from the start, a deal gone bad later is usually only civil. Getting that call right first shapes the whole case.
We act for victims pursuing both punishment and recovery, and for the accused where criminal charges are wielded as leverage.
What this dispute is, and where it comes from
Being deceived into handing over money or property, fake investments, online orders never shipped, impostors. Embezzlement differs: property lawfully held is dishonestly converted, like staff pocketing company takings.
Documents & evidence to gather first
- The chats, ads, or messages used to deceive
- Transfer slips and every receiving account
- Whatever identifies the offender, numbers, pages, profiles
- Related contracts or order documents
- The police report, if already filed
How we can help
Legal knowledge worth knowing
Dishonestly deceiving another by false statement or by concealing facts that should be disclosed, and thereby obtaining property, up to 3 years' imprisonment or a 60,000-baht fine, or both.
Public fraud carries up to 5 years, and is non-compoundable.
Ordinary fraud is compoundable, the victim must complain within 3 months of knowing the offence and offender, or the criminal case is barred.
Dishonestly entering false data into a computer system causing damage, routinely charged alongside online fraud.
Holding another's property and dishonestly converting it to oneself or a third party, up to 3 years or a 60,000-baht fine, and compoundable like fraud.
Supreme Court No. 5400/2560, who may apply for compensation from the accused in a criminal case under Section 44/1 of the Criminal Procedure Code is decided by civil-law entitlement, not by importing the criminal meaning of injured person in Section 2(4).
Limitation periods and deadlines you cannot miss
- 3 mthsComplaint window for compoundable fraud (s.96)
- 10 yrsCriminal prescription for ordinary fraud (s.95(3))
- 1 yrTort recovery claims, from knowledge (s.448)
The above is a brief summary of legal principles for general knowledge only, not advice on any specific case. Statutes may have been amended and application always turns on the facts. Please verify the current law or consult an attorney before acting.