Thai police arrest five in Korat for Facebook scam

Thai police have apprehended five individuals involved in a scam that involved creating fake Facebook pages to deceive people into transferring money for sacred objects. The arrests were made following a detailed investigation by the Metropolitan Police Bureau.

Police Lieutenant General Thiti Saengsawang, Police Major General Nopasin Poolsawas, and other senior officers from the bureau directed their team to conduct a series of raids yesterday, September 27. Patarapong Kanjanawatsri, Nit Piyapan, Sompong Keturatti, and Songsak Jiamsakul led the operation that resulted in the capture of 23 year old Virawan, 18 year old Worawut, 23 year old Sirisorn, 62 year old Charlie, and 26 year old Jenjira.

The suspects face charges of fraud and introducing false information into a computer system accessible to the public. The investigation revealed that the group had systematically carried out their fraudulent activities, leading to numerous victims falling prey to their schemes. The suspects were arrested following a court warrant issued on September 25 by the Buayai Provincial Court.

Virawan, also known as Fah, confessed to all charges. She explained that after completing her secondary education through non-formal education, she initially struggled to find stable employment. Early last year, she met a woman named Mail on Facebook who hired her to open bank accounts. Virawan then sold these accounts to Mail, receiving between 200 to 500 baht per account. After being arrested twice last year for this activity, she decided to continue the scam on her own, guided by Mail.

Using two mobile phones, Virawan created fake Facebook pages that mimicked those of legitimate sellers of sacred objects. She targeted customers who participated in auctions or showed interest in purchasing these items, sending them private messages while pretending to be the legitimate page. She then instructed Worawut to open mule accounts for her, paying him 500 to 1,000 baht per account. Worawut lived with her, helping to withdraw the defrauded money.

Upon receiving the payments, Virawan would cease communication with the victims and block them if they tried to complain. The money obtained from these scams was used for her daily expenses until her arrest. Records show that Virawan has a history of criminal activities, including drug trafficking in 2017 and multiple fraud-related offences between 2022 and 2023.

Worawut admitted to all charges, revealing that he had completed his education until the third year of secondary school through non-formal education. He was previously engaged in various odd jobs. Early this year, Virawan approached him, offering to pay him for opening bank accounts. Desperate for money, he agreed, aware that the accounts would be used for fraudulent purposes. He assisted Virawan in withdrawing the money and accompanied her everywhere, receiving food and accommodation in return.

Legal consequences

The police have transferred the suspects to the investigation team at Kaeng Sanam Nang Police Station for further legal action. Police Major General Teeradej emphasised the importance of public vigilance against various forms of fraud. He warned against opening bank accounts or providing personal information to others, as these could be used for criminal activities, resulting in severe consequences for unwitting accomplices.

The penalties for creating or facilitating the use of mule accounts are severe, with those found guilty facing up to three years in prison, fines up to 300,000 baht, or both. Those who hire others to open such accounts face even harsher penalties, with prison terms ranging from two to five years and fines between 200,000 to 500,000 baht, reported KhaoSod.