Supaporn Passa, 56, a farmer from Nakhon Ratchasima, said that she was approached by a cousin named Sai. Sai's boyfriend, called Natee, promised Bt5,000 daily wage but demanded Bt100,000 from each worker to finance the trip arrangement.
All were scheduled to leave Bangkok on May 11 but the broker disappeared.
Supaporn said most of the 25 people borrowed for the arrangement cost or mortgaged their land.