1,100 people were victims of direct selling in Thailand, CEO arrested by police

**Interviewer:** Can you tell us more about the recent scandal involving the iCon Group in Thailand?

**Source:** Absolutely. Recently, the iCon Group, a direct selling company in Thailand, has been embroiled in a significant scandal involving allegations of fraud. The company has been accused of luring people into investing by using celebrity endorsements and advertisements. The president of the iCon Group, Varataporn, along with 11 other members of the management, has been arrested on charges of fraud.

**Interviewer:** How does the iCon Group operate their business model?

**Source:** The iCon Group employs a pyramid scheme structure, where individuals are required to invest their own money to purchase health and beauty products. The company assures them that these products sell well. However, when these products fail to sell, they encourage the existing members to recruit new participants. Members earn commissions from the new recruits instead of learning how to sell the products effectively. Many victims have reported that rather than receiving guidance on product sales, they were pushed to bring in more recruits.

**Interviewer:** What has been the societal impact of this scandal in Thailand?

**Source:** The involvement of several Thai celebrities and public figures as endorsers for the iCon Group has drawn significant public attention. This has led many victims, misled by these endorsements, to invest substantial amounts of money, leaving them financially devastated. Tragically, some individuals felt so hopeless after losing their investments that they resorted to extreme measures.

**Interviewer:** Which celebrities were involved in promoting the iCon Group?

**Source:** Some prominent figures who previously endorsed the company include well-known actor Pakorn Chatborirak, actor Krit Amnuaydechkorn, TV host Kan Kantathavorn, and actress Pechaya Wattanamontree.

**Interviewer:** How did this case become widely known?

**Source:** The scandal gained traction after being featured on a talk show on Channel 3 in Thailand. It quickly escalated, revealing that the impacts of this scheme were felt not just in Thailand but also in Cambodia, Myanmar, and Japan. The newly appointed chief of the Thai Royal Police is closely monitoring the situation, and Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha has ordered all relevant authorities to take action.

**Interviewer:** What is the current status of the investigation?

**Source:** According to reports, nearly 1,100 victims have come forward, with total losses estimated at around 400 million Thai Baht (approximately 12.05 million USD). After several days of investigation, arrest warrants were issued for Varataporn and 17 others. The police have apprehended Varataporn and 11 other executives, all of whom held the title of “Boss” within the organization. Authorities are actively searching for six additional individuals involved in this case.