Fortunately for me I was not one of the victims. I have no idea how they manage to convince educated people who I would not expect to be naive and would not expect to fall for scams to turn over large amounts of money - especially when we are very often warned about this sort of thing. How do they do it? What do they say to convince the victims? This one is definitely on my "I Don't Get It List".
I don't think anyone needs me to say what the chances are that the victims will get any of their money back.
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Pattaya Police Bust Alleged Indian Scammer in Pattaya for Scamming American Victims of Three Billion Baht
By Tanakorn Panyadee
March 21, 2023
An Indian man and his Thai wife have been taken into custody by Pattaya Police today for allegedly scamming multiple American victims of over three billion baht.
Deputy National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Torsak Sukwimol, accompanied by a commando unit and officers from the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), conducted a raid on a house in Pattaya’s Banglamung district today, March 21st, at 10 AM. The raid was prompted by a notification from the United States Embassy, which stated that the dwelling was being used as a hideout by scammers.
After searching the house, Gen. Torsak told The Pattaya News that he has arrested an unidentified Indian national aged between 50-60 years old and his Thai wife aged around 40-50 years old. The two have been accused of duping numerous American citizens of over three billion baht in total damages and had fled to Pattaya, according to the United States Embassy.
Gen. Torsak said police seized several car keys, bank account books, smartphones, and weapons from the two suspects. A press briefing will be hosted at 10 AM tomorrow, March 22nd, to provide further details about the case.
https://thepattayanews.com/2023/03/21/p ... lion-baht/
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UPDATE: Pattaya Police Holds Press Briefing into Massive Indian Scam Syndicate Bust
By Tanakorn Panyadee
March 22, 2023
Five Indian phone scammers and 15 Thai accomplices were arrested following a major scam bust yesterday across Thailand. The suspects swindled 365 American retirees out of over three billion baht, according to police.
Now for our update:
The raids carried out by the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), police commandos, and officials from the Anti-Money Laundering Office struck 36 premises in Chonburi, Rayong, Roi Et, and Surat Thani, and resulted in the arrest of over 20 phone scam suspects.
Pol. Gen. Torsak Sukwimol, deputy national police chief, told a press briefing today, March 22nd, that the suspects mainly targeted elderly American citizens and had tricked 365 people into transferring them three billion baht.
Five primary Indian suspects have been arrested including:
1. Mr. Tevanachu Nandakichor Cho, 42 years old
2. Mr. Autar Singh, 36 years old
3. Mr. Yogesh Kumar, 34 years old
4. Mr. Karun Kumar Gotchakpai, 40 years old
5. Mr. Keetan Triphuvandej Panchal, 53 years old
15 Thai accomplices with ages ranging from 20-50 years old were also taken into custody.
The Royal Thai Police are joining forces with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and US Secret Service to hunt for 16 remaining fugitives.
On Tuesday, March 21st, Pattaya Police arrested one Indian alleged scammer and seized from him 162 bank account books, 61 smartphones, two cars, and one firearm.
According to Gen. Torsak, a group of Indian and Thai nationals formed a call center gang to scam retirees in the United States. The group swindled money from the victims by saying the victims were involved in legal cases, posing themselves as FBI officers, or hacking the victims’ computers. Between 2020-2021, there were 72,000 reported cases with damages totaling more than 3 billion baht.
The victims varied in occupations, such as doctors, university professors, dentists, military personnel, and business owners, Gen. Torsak said. Most of them were swindled out of their hard-earned life savings.
The syndicate operated as a network with different roles to move and hide the assets obtained from their criminal activities. They used Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Peru, and Poland as sources for stashing the scammed money.
After investigating and collecting digital evidence, police discovered that there was more than 1 billion baht circulating within the scam gang’s network. Bank accounts belonging to legal entities within the network, as well as gold shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues in Chonburi were also found to have been used to launder money.
The suspects faced various charges, such as money laundering, participating in transnational organized crime, fraud, and importing fake information into computer systems.
https://thepattayanews.com/2023/03/22/u ... cate-bust/
American victims scammed out of 3 billion baht
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Re: American victims scammed out of 3 billion baht
More arrests in phone scams targeting Americans
by Wassayos Ngamkham
March 23, 2023
A total of 20 people — five Indian nationals and 15 Thais — have now been arrested for alleged involvement in a phone scam network preying on elderly Americans with damages exceeding 3 billion baht, police said on Wednesday.
The arrests were made during police raids in four provinces — Chon Buri, Rayong, Roi Et and Surat Thani — on Tuesday. Police said at the time that one Indian man and three Thai women had been detained in Chon Buri, and they subsequently provided details on another 16 arrests.
All five of the Indian suspects were men and 11 of the 15 Thais detained were women, Pol Gen Torsak Sukwimol, a deputy national police chief, said on Wednesday.
Seized from them were 162 bank account books, 61 mobile phones, two cars, one pistol, land title deeds and other assets, he said.
The investigation dates back to last year, when US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Secret Service agents informed Thai police that Indian cyber criminals and Thai nationals had set up a phone scam network to trick elderly people in the United States into transferring money to them.
The fraudsters, pretending to be US law-enforcement officials, preyed on the fear of their victims by telling them that they were being investigated for alleged money laundering. The callers then demanded that they transfer money into their “mule” accounts if they wanted to have the cases settled without further litigation.
In some cases the victims were sent links containing viruses, which allowed the scammers to take control of their devices.
As many as 72,000 phone scam cases were reported between 2020 and 2021 with damages exceeding US$3 billion, said Pol Gen Torsak. The US requested help from Thailand with 365 cases.
According to the investigation, the scammers worked in a network that divided tasks among its members, and ill-gotten assets were concealed. The gang used Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Peru and Poland as bases to receive money transfers from victims. The damage exceeded 3 billion baht, said Pol Gen Torsak.
Most of the victims were elderly people from various careers including physicians, university lecturers, dentists, military officers and business operators, he added.
The scam gang in Thailand had about one billion baht in circulation, authorities said. Bank account books seized from the suspects found links to juristic persons in the network. Some of the proceeds had been laundered through gold shops, restaurants and entertainment venues in Chon Buri, said Pol Gen Torsak.
The network had about 10 million baht a month in circulation, judging from the seized bank accounts.
Pol Lt Gen Worawat Watnakhonbancha, commissioner of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), said one of the victims of the scam was a Thai national who lost 1.8 million baht.
The Indian suspects initiated the plan by asking Thais to open bank accounts and open companies. Money was later withdrawn from those bank accounts for the Indian suspects, said Pol Lt Gen Worawat.
The investigation was being widened to arrest more people involved, he added.
According to Pol Lt Gen Worawat, some Americans and foreign nationals working in the US had sold information to the Indian-led gang. The ringleaders used some of the money they made to buy real estate in Thailand and sent some to their home country, he added.
The suspects have been charged with colluding in transnational crime, fraud, putting false information into a computer system, laundering money and related offences.
The five Indian suspects were identified as Nandakishore Joshi, 42; Avatar Singh, 36; Yogesh Kumar, 34; Karunal Kumar Gotchakpai Topiwala, 40; and Kitan Tribhuvandej Panchal, 53.
The 15 Thais were Darannaphat Hinchan, 33; Preedaporn Hinchan, 27; Areeyaporn Sridongklang, 41; Sakhanin Saenpradit, 38; Thatsanee Phokinnaowaphan, 50; Sukanya Phankhong, 24; Natthawut Jaithongkla 25; Yada Rotjanasalee, 19; Nanthawat Mum-apai, 23; Jit Phorchan, 61; Arthit Boonlar, 36; Khwanjira Sirithammachak, 32, Mayuree Naphaengsorn, 20; Yuan Yunui 64; and Arunrat Kerdmolee, 23.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... -americans
by Wassayos Ngamkham
March 23, 2023
A total of 20 people — five Indian nationals and 15 Thais — have now been arrested for alleged involvement in a phone scam network preying on elderly Americans with damages exceeding 3 billion baht, police said on Wednesday.
The arrests were made during police raids in four provinces — Chon Buri, Rayong, Roi Et and Surat Thani — on Tuesday. Police said at the time that one Indian man and three Thai women had been detained in Chon Buri, and they subsequently provided details on another 16 arrests.
All five of the Indian suspects were men and 11 of the 15 Thais detained were women, Pol Gen Torsak Sukwimol, a deputy national police chief, said on Wednesday.
Seized from them were 162 bank account books, 61 mobile phones, two cars, one pistol, land title deeds and other assets, he said.
The investigation dates back to last year, when US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Secret Service agents informed Thai police that Indian cyber criminals and Thai nationals had set up a phone scam network to trick elderly people in the United States into transferring money to them.
The fraudsters, pretending to be US law-enforcement officials, preyed on the fear of their victims by telling them that they were being investigated for alleged money laundering. The callers then demanded that they transfer money into their “mule” accounts if they wanted to have the cases settled without further litigation.
In some cases the victims were sent links containing viruses, which allowed the scammers to take control of their devices.
As many as 72,000 phone scam cases were reported between 2020 and 2021 with damages exceeding US$3 billion, said Pol Gen Torsak. The US requested help from Thailand with 365 cases.
According to the investigation, the scammers worked in a network that divided tasks among its members, and ill-gotten assets were concealed. The gang used Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Peru and Poland as bases to receive money transfers from victims. The damage exceeded 3 billion baht, said Pol Gen Torsak.
Most of the victims were elderly people from various careers including physicians, university lecturers, dentists, military officers and business operators, he added.
The scam gang in Thailand had about one billion baht in circulation, authorities said. Bank account books seized from the suspects found links to juristic persons in the network. Some of the proceeds had been laundered through gold shops, restaurants and entertainment venues in Chon Buri, said Pol Gen Torsak.
The network had about 10 million baht a month in circulation, judging from the seized bank accounts.
Pol Lt Gen Worawat Watnakhonbancha, commissioner of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), said one of the victims of the scam was a Thai national who lost 1.8 million baht.
The Indian suspects initiated the plan by asking Thais to open bank accounts and open companies. Money was later withdrawn from those bank accounts for the Indian suspects, said Pol Lt Gen Worawat.
The investigation was being widened to arrest more people involved, he added.
According to Pol Lt Gen Worawat, some Americans and foreign nationals working in the US had sold information to the Indian-led gang. The ringleaders used some of the money they made to buy real estate in Thailand and sent some to their home country, he added.
The suspects have been charged with colluding in transnational crime, fraud, putting false information into a computer system, laundering money and related offences.
The five Indian suspects were identified as Nandakishore Joshi, 42; Avatar Singh, 36; Yogesh Kumar, 34; Karunal Kumar Gotchakpai Topiwala, 40; and Kitan Tribhuvandej Panchal, 53.
The 15 Thais were Darannaphat Hinchan, 33; Preedaporn Hinchan, 27; Areeyaporn Sridongklang, 41; Sakhanin Saenpradit, 38; Thatsanee Phokinnaowaphan, 50; Sukanya Phankhong, 24; Natthawut Jaithongkla 25; Yada Rotjanasalee, 19; Nanthawat Mum-apai, 23; Jit Phorchan, 61; Arthit Boonlar, 36; Khwanjira Sirithammachak, 32, Mayuree Naphaengsorn, 20; Yuan Yunui 64; and Arunrat Kerdmolee, 23.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... -americans