Search Results for: passport scam
- Phuket News
Syrian woman and Afghan men nabbed in Phuket passport scam
Phuket International Airport turned into a hotspot for international intrigue on Monday as immigration officers caught three travellers attempting to pass through with forged passports. In the first bust, a 27 year old Syrian woman, whose name was withheld, was apprehended trying to enter Thailand with a fake Italian passport. The arrest occurred in the international arrivals hall at about…
- Crime News
Beware of passport scam targetting British nationals in Thailand warns UK Foreign Office
The British Foreign Office issued a warning to both UK residents and expats in Thailand about a passport scam that is currently targetting British nationals in the kingdom. Fraudsters are attempting to capitalize on the recent strikes by government workers in the UK, which have caused delays in passport renewals, by promising to bypass the three-month waiting period for a…
- Phuket News
Phuket vehicle rental operators warned of passport scam
PHUKET: Patong Police warned vehicle operators in Phuket to carefully scrutinize renters’ passports following a report from Samui that a rented bike had been stolen. Krabi restaurant owner Jurgen Weber reported that two foreigners used a third party’s passport to rent a motorbike from his sister-in-law’s shop in Samui. And they never returned it. “I always tell rental operators that…
- Crime News
Thai workers arrested for risky border escape after Cambodia job scam
Ten Thai construction workers were arrested near the Thai-Cambodian border while attempting to return home after being deceived by employers in Cambodia. The incident occurred today, July 2, near the permanent checkpoint at Ban Khlong Luek in Sa Kaeo province. The Burapha Task Force, along with the Aranyaprathet Special Task Force, apprehended the group as they climbed the roof of…
- Crime News
Thai woman accused in Philippine call centre scam arrested
Yesterday, June 22, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) sought to detain a woman accused of recruiting Thai citizens to work in a call centre scam in the Philippines. The suspect, Natwikon, was arrested under a warrant issued by the Criminal Court on April 25. She is charged with collaborating with at least two others to exploit people through forced…
- Thailand News
Thailand faces surge in call centre complaints and online scams
Complaints regarding call centres and online scams in Thailand have surged to levels comparable to December last year, after previously reaching a low in February, as reported by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC). NBTC commissioner Nathathorn Prousoontorn noted the increase in complaints is partly due to insufficient coordination in arresting fraudsters and scammers in some regions. He also…
- Pattaya News
Thai bank workers in baht-tle: Dodgy staff ‘cashed in’ on scam
Three Thai bank workers have been cuffed after allegedly helping a Chinese-run scam gang launder a jaw-dropping 2.2 billion baht, through a web of fake accounts. The dodgy trio, who worked at a branch in Pattaya, are accused of turning a blind eye while 15 Chinese nationals, all posing as tourists, opened bank accounts and swiftly drained millions in cash…
- Pattaya News
Chinese woman arrested in Pattaya for crypto scam
A raid on a luxury villa in Pattaya turned into a stunning double arrest as Thai police captured a Chinese woman accused of masterminding a cryptocurrency investment scam worth over US$18.4 million (around 622 million baht). But the surprises didn’t end there—officers also uncovered her fugitive boyfriend, an international criminal with a chilling past. The Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD)…
- Thailand News
Chinese man arrested at Thailand-Cambodia border with fake passport
Immigration Bureau officers today arrested a Chinese man at a border checkpoint in the Isaan province of Sa Kaeo for entering the country with a fake passport. As part of measures to tackle call centre scam operations, Thai officials implemented stricter inspections at border checkpoints nationwide. Officers at the Ban Khlong Luek Border Checkpoint followed these directives and managed to…
- Thailand News
Chiang Rai police arrest 9 in crypto scam targeting US, Canada
Police in Chiang Rai have arrested nine Chinese nationals involved in a significant hybrid scam operation, impersonating individuals with appealing profiles to target victims in the United States and Canada, persuading them to invest in cryptocurrency. The operation was carried out yesterday, February 28, with oversight from Police Lieutenant General Kritthaphon Yeesakorn and several other senior officers from region 5…
- Crime News
Chinese-Thai duo arrested for 30 million baht crypto scam
A Chinese man and a Thai woman have been apprehended in connection with a money laundering operation linked to a cryptocurrency investment scam. This fraudulent scheme is believed to have caused damages exceeding 30 million baht (US$897,640), with an estimated annual transaction volume of over 10 billion baht (US$299,213). Assets worth 20 million baht (US$598,372) have been seized. Yesterday, February…
- Thailand News
Myanmar repatriates Chinese scam workers through Thailand
Myanmar has begun repatriating hundreds of Chinese nationals forced to work in scam centres, with the first group crossing into Thailand today, February 20. This marks the start of a massive operation expected to free thousands from criminal-run compounds in Myanmar over the coming weeks. The first group of 50 Chinese workers was transported to the Thai border town of…
- Phuket News
Chinese duo nabbed in Phuket café lion cub photo scam
Two Chinese nationals were arrested in Phuket after allegedly using lion cubs to lure tourists to The Glass House Cafe and Space, charging them for photo sessions with the animals. The café, located on Ratsada-Anusorn Road in Ratsada, has a history of similar wildlife abuse scandals, including last year’s notorious incident involving a cub named Nong Kiwi. Armed with a…
- Bangkok News
Liberian duo arrested in Bangkok for US$90,000 gold scam
Two Liberian nationals have been detained in connection with a gold-selling scam in Bangkok that resulted in the theft of US$90,000, equivalent to around 3 million baht, from a Thai businessman. The scam involved swapping counterfeit banknotes for genuine ones. Police Colonel Pansa Amarapitak, the chief of Thong Lor Police Station, announced the arrest of 32 year old Solomon Varney…
- Bangkok News
Chinese call centre scam: Bangkok police arrest 4 more men
A coordinated crackdown on a suspected call centre scam network culminated in the arrest of four Chinese men in Bangkok. Police carried out raids across eight locations in the city yesterday, December 27, targeting areas in Bang Na, Makkasan, Lumpini, Huai Khwang, Hua Mak, and Din Daeng. Metropolitan Police Bureau chief investigator, Theeradej Thamsuthee, spearheaded the operation. During the raids,…
- Bangkok News
Thai couple arrested for job scam, duping victims for 70,000 baht
Police have apprehended a couple accused of deceiving job seekers into paying them 70,000 baht each for overseas employment arrangements, ultimately providing nothing more than counterfeit documents. Anuwat and his wife Chantima were taken into custody by officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) at a residence in the Prasert Manukit area of Bangkok. The arrest took place yesterday,…
- Travel Guides
Jet ski scams in Thailand to be aware of
Imagine returning your rented jet ski, only to be confronted with claims of damage you didn’t cause. Scammers may even rent out faulty vehicles, leading to accidents and further demands for compensation. The situation’s made worse by the jet ski scam when you’re forced to purchase unnecessary insurance or extras, inflating costs significantly. Knowing the risks and being prepared can…
- Crime News
Scammers posing as repair technicians target homes in Buriram
Scammers posing as repair technicians have been targeting residents by forcibly entering homes and demanding payment for unnecessary repairs. This unsettling incident has left the community of Samrong, Plapplachai district, Buriram province in a state of alert. On October 6, around 1pm, 59 year old Jamnien, was looking after her four month old granddaughter in front of her house when…
- Thailand News
Over 28% of Thais hit by fraud as AI scams soar
Thailand is facing a scam epidemic, with more than a quarter of its citizens falling victim to fraudsters in just the past year, a bombshell report has revealed. A staggering 28% of Thais have lost money, according to new data from Whoscall developer Gogolook, in collaboration with the Global Anti-Scam Alliance (GASA) and ScamAdviser. The survey of over 9,000 Thais…
- Crime News
Thai woman held for impersonating diplomat in 6 million baht scam
Thai police apprehended a young woman impersonating a Thai diplomat in Canada, accused of scamming a student out of 6 million baht using fake passport allegations. Following directives from Police General Kittirat Phanphet and Police Lieutenant General Thatchai Pitaneelabut, who are focused on eradicating criminal organisations causing public distress, the online patrol unit of the Metropolitan Investigation Bureau unearthed a…
- Crime News
Thai police arrest tuk tuk driver for tourist scam and fake plates
Thai police apprehended a tuk tuk driver accused of using fake license plates and absconding with over US$1,200 (40,500 baht) of a foreign tourist’s money and belongings. The arrest occurred following a detailed investigation, highlighting the challenges of tracking the suspect. Police, led by Police Major General Samart Promchat, Commander of Metropolitan Police Division 6, arrested 66 year old Boonlert,…
- Thailand News
3 Chinese men arrested in online gambling and call centre scam
Immigration Bureau officers arrested three Chinese men in Chon Buri for operating a multinational online gambling and call centre scam with over 5.5 billion baht in circulation. The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China requested cooperation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand to arrest the Chinese suspect, 47 year old Su, for fraud and operating a casino.…
- Thailand News
Japanese man loses 310,000 baht to visa scam and corrupt police
A Japanese man filed a complaint with the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) after losing 300,000 baht in a visa scam and an additional 10,000 baht to a corrupt Thai cyber cop. The victim, 51 year old Shinichi Maeda, who runs a clothing export business in Thailand, revealed to CIB police that he has been living in Thailand for 20 years…
- Bangkok News
Thai transwoman nabbed in 26 million baht scam targeting Japanese nationals
Metropolitan Police Bureau officers arrested a Thai transwoman yesterday after she scammed 73 Japanese nationals over a ten-year period. The total losses amounted to nearly 26 million baht. The 49 year old Thai transwoman, Uthai “Amy” Nantakhan, was arrested yesterday, August 4, at her condominium in the Bangkapi district of Bangkok. Her arrest followed a report from the latest Japanese…
- Thailand News
Chinese fugitive running luxury scams in Thailand arrested
Thai immigration authorities nabbed a Chinese fugitive running an illicit tour operation in Bangkok. Following a tip-off about an Asian man suspected of working and residing illegally in Thailand, officers launched an in-depth investigation. Duan, a 42 year old Chinese fugitive residing in a posh condominium in the Ramkhamhaeng district was apprehended. Duan was already on the radar in China…
- Thailand News
Pattaya mayor warns residents of impersonation scam
Mayor Poramet Ngampichet issued a stern warning to Pattaya residents after uncovering a shocking scam: his social media accounts on Facebook, TikTok, and LINE have been maliciously impersonated. The fraudulent accounts, brazenly using his name and photos, have deceived the public into believing they were engaging with the real mayor. Pattaya City isn’t taking this lightly. Legal action is already…
- Thailand News
NBTC rings changes: Task force to dial down online banking scams
The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) has established a working group to enforce a new policy aimed at preventing online scams targeting mobile banking users. This policy mandates that the name used to register a mobile phone SIM card must match the name of the bank account holder connected to the internet via that SIM card. This policy had…
- Thailand News
DSI: International scammers caught in massive call-centre bust
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has dismantled a notorious call-centre syndicate operating from Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Led by DSI’s acting director-general Police Major Yutthana Praedam, the crackdown unveiled a web of deceit spanning across Thailand, China, and Russia. A total of 71 suspects, comprising 52 Chinese nationals and 19 Thai accomplices, were arrested during the raid orchestrated by…
- Pattaya News
Pattaya visa scam leaves hundreds of tourists out of pocket and overstaying
Hundreds of victims have been financially swindled by an unscrupulous visa extension agency in Pattaya, with some foreign victims being illegally overstayed in the Kingdom. Today, 36 year old Chanidapha Thowasakul, represented a group of more than 30 victims, including foreign nationals, and brought 33 year old Suphawadee (surname withheld) to the Pattaya City Police Station. The victims, with 40…
- Thailand News
Thai woman manipulated by scammer into swindling her mother
Police in the Isaan province of Ubon Ratchathani rescued a 21 year old Thai woman who was manipulated by a call centre scammer into swindling her mother out of 250,000 baht. A Thai woman reached out to Mueang Ubon Ratchathani Police Station officer and Chief of Khemarat district after her daughter, 21 year old Su, was allegedly kidnapped for ransom.…
