The Thai man who gained a kind of fame for transferring THB89,000 (US$2,700) to a fraudster he talked to on a dating app got some closure yesterday after the alleged con-artist got arrested yesterday. On top of that, he also revealed yesterday that he has been in touch with the real woman from the photos abused by the scammer — but it seems the attraction isn’t mutual.
Lover-boy Sorrachat Phonwattana told reporters yesterday at a police press conference that he did indeed fancy Ariyapat Meekaew, the attractive woman whose photos were used without her knowledge to con him, after the pair met while testifying about the romance scam case.
READ: Police arrest catfisher who scammed Thai man out of THB89,000
At the same press conference, suspect Nuntalin Pakwatsawan, 32, was presented to reporters just hours after she had been arrested on charges of fraud. The scammer suspect confessed that she needed the money to pay her debts.
Sorrachat commented that he didn’t believe Nuntalin felt guilty of her action.
“She said she has already used all of my money … I’m trying to get over it at this point. She did apologize, but I know she’s going to scam another person again when she’s released from jail,” Sorrachat told Amarin TV.
Despite claims that he was doing well with the ladies after the romance scam story went viral (lots of ladies have apparently reached out to him since), Sorrachat admitted to having romantic feelings towards Ariyapat, the woman he thought he had been virtually courting.
“I talk to her [Ariyapat] like a friend … because she’s an angel and I’m just a regular man. I’m not sure if I’m getting my hopes up, but I like her. She’s very beautiful and nice,” he said.
Sorrachat added he’s currently not on any dating apps.
Meanwhile, Ariyapat, who also made an appearance at the conference, told reporters that she didn’t have feelings for Sorrachat whatsoever upon meeting him.
“He has his own personal bubble, and I didn’t have any feelings for him in the first place. We talk on LINE, though. He also calls a lot,” Ariyapat said.
Airyapat, who runs an online business, said that she would change her social media profile’s settings to private as a result of the case, and said she had forgiven Nuntalin for using her photos.
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