By Sumeth Wannapruek

Khon Kaen - Police on Thursday raided two firms offering match-making services after allegations of swindling women looking for foreign partners.

The police team raided the Thai Publuk and Thai Zury companies in Muang district in the province of Khon Kaen which provide online match-making services for Thai women wanting to find foreign partners.

The raid followed complaints by more than 50 northeastern women, who claimed they had been deceived by the firms, which promised to find foreign husbands for them. They claimed the firms failed to honour agreements.

Pol Lt-Col Weerawuth Siangsai, the chief of the suppression division at the Khon Kaen police station, said women from Khon Kaen and neighbouring provinces had hired the match-making firms.

They told the firms about what they expected of the foreigners they wanted to marry. The firms later contacted foreigners and suggested they chat with the women on the firm's websites.

The correspondence and online match-making service lasted two months and each woman was charged 5,000 baht.

If the two sides wanted to meet, the firms would arrange places for them to see each other face to face. The meeting places included Suvarnabhumi airport and tourist venues, said Pol Lt-Col Weerawuth.

If the two sides agreed to marry, they had to pay 50,000 baht to the service providers, the police officer said. The firm would also get 10 per cent of any dowry money.

Pol Lt-Col Weerawuth said there are six match-making firms in Khon Kaen with over 1,000 registered customers.

Police had been unable to act against the firms earlier because women had not filed charges. Many felt they would be embarrassed if their stories were made public. Most simply gave information to police but did not press charges, said the officer.