Cosplay pic scammer targeted 20-plus students

More than 20 people — mostly Mathayom students — have fallen victim to a scam in which fake social media accounts were used to lure them into sending explicit photos or videos of themselves in cosplay outfits.

Piyabutr Urai-ngam, 27, was arrested on Thursday by police from the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) and other state officials at his house in Pathum Thani’s Lam Luk Ka district.

The Pathum Thani provincial court had earlier issued a search warrant after a police officer sought help from Pol Maj Gen Charoonkiat Pankaew, commander of the police Anti-Corruption Division (ACD), saying his 14-year-old daughter had committed suicide after having been a victim of the ruse.

The officer said his daughter was lured into sending Mr Piyabutr naked photos of herself in exchange for money. The suspect then used the photos to blackmail her and force her into continued lewd interactions. The girl became so distressed she hanged herself, her father said.

ATPD commander Pol Maj Gen Wiwat Khamchamnarn said yesterday that police initially pressed charges against the suspect for possessing child pornography. After further investigation, police discovered more than 100 indecent video clips of minors stored in his mobile phone and notebook computer.

They also found the sexually explicit pictures and videos of mostly Mathayom students, who were members of a cosplay group.

Pol Maj Gen Wiwat said the suspect admitted his actions drove the police officer’s daughter to commit suicide. However, a source said the suspect earlier had been unconcerned when the girl threatened to kill herself.

Investigators today will expedite the process to have the Criminal Court remand Mr Piyabutr by opposing his bail.

Pol Maj Gen Wiwat said police are considering additional charges in light of the suicide and the suspect having targeted minors. They also will coordinate with multi-agency officials during interrogations of the suspect, he said.