In an intriguing turn of events, another romance-sparked scam unfolded in the bustling province of Nonthaburi, just a stone’s throw from the vibrant city of Bangkok. Over the weekend, a young Thai man named Phitchakorn Khamtan found himself at the heart of a real-life drama that involved the peculiar disappearance of his beloved motorcycle—a striking red Yamaha Grand Filano.
The story, which has since captured the imagination of social media users far and wide, began when Phitchakorn took to Facebook to seek the help of his followers. On the evening of Saturday, March 15, he noticed that his prized motorcycle had vanished like a magic trick gone wrong. Desperate for answers, he shared a distress call alongside a photo of his missing bike. Set against the backdrop of a busy parking area outside an apartment on Nakhon Inn Road, Phitchakorn painted a picture of betrayal with his words: “My bike disappeared from the parking area outside an apartment opposite the Hyundai sales centre at the entrance to Lamudnai Temple. I lost it on March 15 at about 7pm. The motorcycle’s left light is broken, and there’s a sticker that reads ‘Family 13 Gangster’ on its body. The registration plate is 2ขช 3412 Bangkok. Anyone who spots my vehicle can reach me via 084-766-2698.”
Despite his heartfelt plea, Phitchakorn initially chose to keep the identity of the mystery woman—a character lifted straight out of a crime drama—under wraps. However, during a candid interview with Channel 7, Phitchakorn finally spilled the beans, revealing that the thief in question was none other than a 23-year-old Thai woman named Pannarai. The duo had originally crossed paths on a popular dating application just three weeks prior. Ah, the plot thickens!
Pannarai, as Phitchakorn explained, had become a familiar face as they continued to meet outside the digital realm. However, something about Pannarai seemed amiss from the start. The persona she projected online didn’t quite match her real-world presence, leading Phitchakorn to harbor doubts about pursuing a serious relationship. But, love or not, when Pannarai requested to borrow his motorcycle, citing a need for transport to a potential job interview, Phitchakorn succumbed to a moment of compassion and lent her the keys.
That simple act of kindness set the stage for one dramatic tale. As the clock ticked beyond their agreed-upon return time, Phitchakorn’s concern grew into an insistent worry. With no sight of Pannarai and the dreaded silence from her end—eliciting the thought, “Fool me once…”—he did what any rational person would do: he called her frantically. Alas, his efforts were met with the cold shoulder, leaving him no choice but to file a report with Bang Kluay Police Station.
The police investigation led them to track down Pannarai’s father, only to hit a dead end—her father confessed to not being in touch with his daughter for quite some time. It seemed as if Pannarai had vanished into thin air, taking with her more than a motorcycle; she had taken with her Phitchakorn’s faith in swift, digital love affairs.
Interestingly, this wasn’t the first time Nonthaburi found itself caught in such an unsavory cycle of deceit. Just last month, fate mirrored itself grimly when another unsuspecting victim—a disabled man—fell prey to a similar ruse, losing his motorcycle to a woman he’d met via Facebook. Like a villain from a heist movie, she vanished with his bike while he was caught in the shower, leaving only echoes of the roaring escape behind.
As the drama of these digital-age heists unfolds, one can’t help but wonder: is Nonthaburi in the grips of a motorcycle-stealing syndicate with a penchant for romance? Or are these seemingly sophisticated scams a mere reflection of our all-too-human vulnerabilities in the face of modern-day ‘love’?
So, dear readers, next time you swipe right and find yourself romantically whirlpooled into the world of online dating, it might not hurt to occasionally switch lanes into the cautious zone. After all, not everything—or everyone—lurking within the digital domain is what they seem, and you certainly wouldn’t want to be left scrubbing motorcycle dust from your misplaced trust.
Oh come on, people need to be more careful! You can’t just trust someone because you met them on a dating app!
True, but sometimes people just want to see the good in others. It’s sad that it often backfires like this.
I get that, Marcus, but in this digital age, we really should know better. Too many scams happening!
I feel for the guy, but who lets someone borrow their bike on a first date? That’s just reckless.
Not the first date actually, they’d been meeting for weeks, but still, you have a point.
Weeks? Seems like he got played. Hard lesson learned, I guess.
Dating apps should have a warning label about potential theft! Seriously, people need to be reminded of the dangers.
That would be a start, but I think it’s more about educating people on how to spot red flags.
You’re right. Maybe on top of that, dating apps could do more to verify users.
Another tale of heartbreak and deceit, sadly. It’s hard to trust anyone these days!
These stories are just too common in Nonthaburi. What is it about that place? Is it the water or something?
This sounds like a script for a bad movie. Can’t believe people fall for this kind of thing.
It’s easy to judge from the outside, but when you’re in love, you often overlook things.
Love should come with a warning sign then!
I agree with the article. Romance is a powerful lure, but it’s risky when your belongings are at stake.
What happened to good old-fashioned dating? All these apps are just a breeding ground for deceit.
Each era has its challenges, Nikki. Just have to learn to navigate them better.
Sounds like from now on, bikers need to install trackers just in case they meet a mysterious stranger.
Why would you let your new date take your motorcycle for a ride? People need to learn to say no.
It’s really disheartening to see these scams affecting lonely hearts. What kind of society are we becoming?
The same society we’ve always been, Sara. Just with technology amplifying the scammers’ reach.
I suppose. Just wish there was more kindness and less trickery out there.
The guy should have known better. Trust takes time to build, not just a few dates on an app.
Does anyone else wonder if there’s a whole gang behind these thefts? Seems too organized to be a one-off.
Wouldn’t be surprised! Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
Such a sad story! I hope he gets his motorcycle back. Seems like he really loved it.
I know it’s tough, but sometimes losing a bike is a lesson in disguise. Maybe next time he’ll be more cautious.