A Thai glamour model has been arrested for allegedly cheating her followers out of 300,000 USD.

Internet personality Monthira Insuwan, 31, from Lamphun, northern Thailand, reportedly scammed more than 40 people by promising large returns if they invested in her beauty salon.

She was said to have built her online following of around 120,000 people on her now-private Instagram account by posting pictures of herself in revealing swimsuits, often posing next to luxury cars or eating at fancy resorts 'to build credibilty' in her financial status.

However, when the payout time came, the online model suddenly disappeared - along with more than 10 million THB (280,000 USD) she had received from investors.

The alleged victims filed a report with authorities, sparking a search for the suspected fraudster.

The Investigation Division of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (IDMB) and the Police Cyber Task Force (PCT) arrested Monthira at the Union Mall in Bangkok on November 8 on charges of 'defrauding the public, deceitfully importing forged or distorted data into a computer system, and uploading false computer information that can cause public harm'.

Speaking to police, Monthira claimed that her salon was not making enough to pay for her financial obligations.

She added: 'I was not trying to escape. I've started a buying and selling business hoping to earn enough to return the money. It wasn't my fault that the beauty salon was not as popular as we had all hoped.'

Police Major General Theeradej Thammasutee of the Royal Thai Police said: 'Investing online is risky because there are a lot of criminals lurking around.

'Checking the credibility of online profiles is not enough. You must study or consult with someone who has investment knowledge first so you won't become a victim.'