How much does it cost to find an eligible foreigner to marry? Many women in Isaan have forked out sizeable sums to match-making agencies in the hope of finding a farang husband.

 One agency in Khon Kaen allegedly took over Bt10 million from local women looking for a well-to-do farang.

"Once they contact an agency, they have to pay between Bt50,000 and Bt70,000," Muang Khon Kaen Police Station inspector Pol Lt Col Veeravoot Siangsai said yesterday. "In January alone, these women lost more than Bt10 million for nothing."

According to Veeravoot, six match-making agencies in Khon Kaen have collected the non-refundable fees from women introduced to foreigners looking for a "dream man".

After months of online chats, the agencies arrange for the chosen foreigner to visit so the couple can meet. If they tie the knot, the agencies charge another Bt50,000, plus 10 per cent of the dowry given by the would-be groom.

Just for sex

"However, not all foreigners agree to marry the women after they meet. Some men came just to have sex," Veeravoot said. In other cases, the women found the foreigners unacceptable, he said.

"Bee" (not her real name), a 40-year-old divorcee, said she used an agency and met a German.

"I travelled to Bangkok and spent four days with him," Bee said. "But we couldn't agree on a marriage in the end." 

Undeterred, Bee admitted that she turned to the agency again. "This time, I believed it should have worked. He came to my home in Khon Kaen several times. Then I found out he already had a Thai wife," she said.

Veeravoot said over 50 women in the Khon Kaen area made complaints about several agencies in January.

Only one complaint

"Only one has lodged an official complaint because most women feel too embarrassed to come forward," Veeravoot said.

But agencies can be sued for deception or fraud if a person can prove the services were not as advertised, he said.

"The woman who lodged the complaint later agreed to an out-of-court settlement with the agency," Veeravoot said.

Daily Xpress