Abstract:
The study on Factors Affecting to Be Economic Crime Victimization: A Case Study of The Pyramid Schemes aimed to study the pyramid scheme patterns in Thailand, factors affecting behaviors of economic crime victimization, and problem solutions to pyramid scheme victimization. This study was based on both qualitative and quantitative research methods. The quantitative research method was conducted by using the questionnaire to collect the data from 396 pyramid scheme victims who were selected by the purposive sampling. The qualitative research method was conducted by using in-depth interviews with 4 officers with direct duties on pyramid scheme. The results showed that there were 3 pyramid scheme patterns in Thailand, including 1) pyramid scheme that persuaded people by word of mouth to sell goods and services such as sale of goods or various investment types, 2) pyramid scheme persuading people to be the members but it focused on membership acquisition rather than the sale of goods, 3) pyramid scheme providing knowledge and using the social media to acquire the members. From testing the factors affecting behaviors of economic crime victimization, which involved 11 variables comprising: 1) characteristics of crime victims; 2) belief; 3) victimization according to Buddhism principle; 4) living pattern; 5) daily activities; 6) opportunities; 7) forcing; 8) support; 9) ability; 10) social value; and 11) objective/purpose, it was found that all such variables affected the behaviors of economic crime victimization. The problem solutions were: 1) to educate the public about various complicated pyramid scheme patterns; 2) to report the authorities immediately when anyone becomes the pyramid scheme victim to get some help as quickly as possible; 3) to integrate all related authorities for good and tangible cooperation in the suppression, prevention and solution of pyramid scheme victimization; and 4) to amend the law by adding more severe penalties relating to pyramid scheme to prevent this kind of offense.