Insta Model with Lavish Lifestyle Gets Backlash After Posting Photo of Welfare Card

Seeing all those #RKOIs will often make us green with envy when they flaunt their lavish lifestyles on social media but since they have all that moolah, guess you can’t blame them for showing off! In case you don’t know, RKOI stands for rich kids of Instagram!

Source: Coconuts

However, this one Thai dude who’s reportedly a model known as Wachrin Tankuranan has been making headlines in Thai media but not for all the right reasons, reported Mstar. Apparently, the 26-year-old man caught netizens’ attention when he posted a photo of his welfare card accompanied by some luxurious items such as a Garmin watch, smartphone and a cup of fancy (and expensive!) coffee. 

The welfare card actually contains about THB1,700 to THB1,800 (RM216 to RM229) that is renewed monthly which can be used to pay for groceries, bills, and transportation fees.

Source: Facebook

According to Coconuts, netizens were enraged by this and did a little internet sleuthing only to find out that Wachrin’s lifestyle looks rather lavish and not at all like someone who needs a welfare card. Instead, he is often spotted dining in fancy restaurants, using expensive gadgets and wearing designer products; basically just enjoying life!

That’s rather outrageous because the welfare card is only eligible for low income earners who earn less than THB100,000 (RM12,764) per year, have less than THB100,000 (RM12,764) in their bank account and not own any real estate. Which means they can only earn about RM1,000 per month!

Source: Facebook

Netizens ridiculed his photos and said, “Wait a minute. Do you do farming with a Macbook?! Better use your two hands to navigate a buffalo, you poor man.”

After receiving much backlash, the man himself decided to respond to this issue and said that he is really poor and none of the things he posted about actually belongs to him. Wachrin explained,

“About Starbucks, sometimes my friend would invite me for coffee. Sometimes I don’t have to pay for it because I go with my friends. Everything belongs to them. I only post nice photos on Twitter and Instagram because everybody does that. I insist that I don’t have any assets.”

Wah, such nice friends!

Source: Coconuts

He also lamented that there are some months where he doesn’t earn any money as his income is not guaranteed. “I review products for a living. My income is not guaranteed. Some months, I don’t have any income at all, and sometimes I only get to use the products for free. I’m just a regular poor person. I’m not handsome or rich.” But he’s a model, right?

After the issue went viral, Sutthirat Rattanachote, director-general of the Comptroller General’s Department, said she is aware of this situation and will investigate. On paper, he definitely looks like he is eligible for the welfare aid but his social media says otherwise, which is why they could not remove him from the program yet.

Source: Instagram

Source: Coconuts

Suwich Rojanawanich, director of the Fiscal Policy Office, said that the Ministry of Finance will review and tighten their guidelines before the next registration in 2019, Coconuts stated. Individuals who have people supporting them could possibly be disqualified for welfare aid.

Wachrin sure has some of the rich best friends who always treat him to life’s little luxuries! Can we be their friend too?

Also read: Man Buys 25 iPhone X to Propose to GF, Gifts One to Every Friend After Proposal