In an impressive feat of policing, the cyber crime profile of Thailand took a hit as law enforcement closed the net on a notorious call centre fraud operation. The unit was reportedly behind scams totaling in excess of 300 million baht. Today, the Crime Technology Investigation Department landed their catch in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai, seizing copious volumes of damning substantiation and apprehending nine individuals who were part of the operation.
This gang ran as a sophisticated, dual-cell setup, one section dedicated to manipulating victims to part ways with their finances, the second functioning as ‘paper trails’, receiving and distributing the illicit funds. The roster on the day of the bust was as follows: the manipulation section included Ploymani, aged 20, Alo, aged 22, Thitikan, aged 20, and Ardee, aged 19. The participants on the second front were: Pimanmas, aged 20, Phanomwan, aged 19, Weerachai, aged 20, the ever-reliable Siriporn, aged 28, and the veteran, Thanaphon, aged 38.
The officers clamped down and seized money in circulation up to the tune of 1,058,620 baht, flashy vehicles amounting to 3.2 million baht, computers, a motorcycle, a bucketful of mobile phones, and a groaning shelf of bank passbooks with associated ATM cards that were linked to these accounts. The captured coffers held around 1.5 million baht, and could potentially account for much more. All of these add up to a bust worth over 10 million baht.
These modern-day bandits preyed on unsuspecting victims, posing as employees of a private courier service. Duped into the elaborate illusion that they had committed crimes, the victims were lured into a redemption narrative that involved parting with their hard-earned money. In this fashion, the gang amassed a small fortune with the total defrauded sum accumulating to over 2,839,298.45 baht.
The investigation trail led authorities to ATM booths in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai. This breadcrumb trail granted them the right to seek search and arrest warrants for in excess of 15 suspects. Their clear modus operandi was highlighted by a structured hierarchy, wherein each member had distinct roles, with Ploymani leading the operation. It is estimated that they conducted transactions worth up to 10 million baht per day from late 2022 to August 2023, amassing a total sum of between 200 to 300 million baht.
The now seized evidence will prove instrumental in securing convictions for a variety of charges from identity fraud, computer-based offences, to money laundering. The pathway forward for the authorities comprises of a victim outreach scheme, tracking and recovering assets to ensure the victims receive a just compensation.
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