Ex-Yakuza member arrested in Thailand over call centre scam
A Japanese national, allegedly a former Yakuza member, has been detained in relation to a dismantled call centre operation in Thailand, as announced by the Immigration Bureau yesterday, January 15.
Identified as 34 year old Yu Hamaji, police suspect him to have been the deputy leader of the Japanese gang that was intercepted in mid-December in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri, explained Police Lieutenant Colonel Pattana Nutchanat, deputy chief of the bureau.
Hamaji reportedly fled with another Japanese suspect before the police conducted raids in the province last month. He was apprehended at Don Mueang Airport on Sunday, January 12, while attempting to leave for Japan.
In response to a request from the Japanese embassy in Thailand to help locate members of the call centre gang, which defrauded Japanese retirees of over 300 million baht, immigration police conducted an investigation. This led to raids on two luxury pool villas in Chon Buri.
During the operation, five individuals were arrested: 37 year old Kenjiro Kimura, 34 year old Takahiro Inoue, 28 year old Katsuhito Yamaguchi, 42 year old Ukai Takayuki, and 40 year old Hatakana Hajime.
Police seized information related to 37 victims and pre-written scripts used to deceive individuals over the phone. These scripts impersonated Japanese state officials responsible for healthcare welfare and billing. Additionally, a list of over 50,000 individuals targeted by the gang was found.
The group allegedly convinced Japanese retirees that they were entitled to large healthcare reimbursements, persuading them to transfer sums starting from 500,000 yen (110,000 baht) to mule accounts.
The gang’s activities reportedly resulted in daily damages of approximately 24 million yen, reported Bangkok Post.
In related news, Thailand Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra issued a stark warning to the public about the dangers of AI-driven scams after narrowly escaping a sophisticated con involving a fake ASEAN leader.
Speaking at a policy meeting for the 2026 fiscal budget, the 38 year old PM revealed she was targeted by a call centre gang using artificial intelligence to mimic the voice of a neighbouring country’s leader.
Latest Thailand News
