Section 345 — Fraud inducing disposal of property
English translation
Whoever dishonestly deceives another person by asserting a false statement or by concealing facts that should be disclosed, so that the person deceived disposes of property to the offender or a third person without receiving consideration or for consideration lower than the true value, commits the offence of cheating and fraud and shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding three years, or a fine not exceeding sixty thousand baht, or both.
This English translation is provided for reference only and has not yet been firm-verified — always rely on the Thai original.
Firm annotation
Section 345 is a variant of fraud in the cheating and fraud chapter, focused on inducing a disadvantageous disposal of property. Its elements are dishonest deception by a false statement or by concealing facts that should be disclosed, causing the person deceived to dispose of property to the offender or a third person, with the result that the disposal is made for no consideration or for consideration lower than the true value. It differs from base fraud under Section 341, where the offender obtains property from the victim, by targeting the situation where the victim parts with property on unfavourable terms because of the deception. Its penalty band matches base fraud at up to three years, and it falls within the compoundable fraud offences under Section 346.
Why this matters in practice
Exposure is up to three years or a fine, and because Section 345 is within the compoundable fraud range under Section 346, a genuine settlement and withdrawal of the complaint can end the case. The offence turns on both the deception and the shortfall in consideration, so the true value of the property and what the victim actually received are central to proof. A common defence is that the transaction was a genuine bargain rather than a deception, or that the price reflected a real agreement rather than a misrepresentation. See our guide to fraud and scam laws in Thailand.
Frequently asked questions
What does Section 345 punish?
It punishes dishonest deception that induces a victim to dispose of property to the offender or a third person for no consideration or for less than its true value.
How is Section 345 different from basic fraud under Section 341?
Section 341 covers obtaining property from the victim, while Section 345 covers deceiving the victim into disposing of property on unfavourable terms, for no or undervalue consideration.
Is fraud under Section 345 compoundable?
Yes. By virtue of Section 346, fraud under Sections 341 to 345 is compoundable, so a genuine settlement can end the criminal case.