Thai authorities apprehended 13 non-native residents for suspected participation in a scheme that deceived Australians fraudulently.
Title: Thai Police Nab International Call-Center Scam Operation Targeting Aussies, Defrauding Victims of 40 Million Baht
Layman's Description: Thai authorities team up with Australian police to take down an international call-center scam that defrauded over 14,000 Aussies of around 40 million baht. The suspects, hailing from several countries, arranged their operations from a luxurious rented house in Samut Prakan, Thailand.
13 Foreigners Arrested for Alleged Call-Center Scamtargeting Australians
Police from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) have apprehended 13 foreign nationals accused of masterminding a boiler room scam from Thailand that targeted Australians, defrauding roughly 40 million baht from around 14,000 victims.
The gang consisted of five Australians, six Britons, one Canadian, and one South African. All were paraded at a press conference held at the CIB headquarters on Tuesday afternoon.
Joint Thai-Australian Investigation Leads to Arrests
CIB commissioner Pol Lt Gen Jirapop Phuridej revealed that the suspects were arrested at 8.30am on Monday at a rented luxury house in Tambon Bang Pli Yai, Samut Prakan's Bang Pli district. The operation was executed in conjunction with Kristie-Lee Cressy, senior officer of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), who joined the press conference to announce the success of the joint Operation Firestorm between Thai and Australian authorities.
Evidence Seized and Charges Filed
During the raid, police seized 58 pieces of evidence, including desktop computers, laptop computers, scripts designed to deceive victims, and mobile phones. The suspects have been charged with unlawful association and working without permission, as they had entered Thailand on tourist visas and were not authorized to work in the kingdom.
Top Dogs Among the Arrested
It's believed that the gang promised victims in Australia returns of 7-10% per year from fake bond investments. According to the AFP, the network had been operating for around 20 years, initially in other countries before its leaders relocated to Thailand early last year. The scam was previously crushed in Indonesia before resurfacing in Thailand.
The group first stayed in Pattaya before shifting their operations to Bangkok and, more recently, to the Samut Prakan house, which they rented for approximately 120,000 baht per month.
Insights
Operating hours at the property corresponded with Australia's business hours of 9am to 6pm. When police raided the property at 8.30am, they found the suspects in a living room that had been transformed into makeshift office cubicles. The suspects claimed they were paid 3,000 Australian dollars per month, plus 2.5% commission on the funds they convinced victims to invest. They identified their bosses as Mark Dennis, 54 (an Australian), and Mark Andrew Howship, 56 (a Briton), who were both among those arrested.
Immigration to Revoke Visas and Blacklist Suspects
Pol Col Plern Klinpayom, deputy commander of Immigration Police Division 3, stated that all 13 suspects entered Thailand at different times and had not overstayed their visas. However, their visas will be revoked, and they will be blacklisted as persona non grata.
Scale of Damage Confirmed by Australian Authorities
Kristie-Lee Cressy of the AFP emphasized that the gang had caused significant financial harm to numerous victims in Australia, particularly over the past four years.
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1. The international call-center scam, which was recently dismantled by Thai and Australian authorities, was not only a matter of crime-and-justice but also a concern for general-news and politics, as it involved politicians from different countries, including five Australians and six Britons.
2. The arrest of 13 foreign nationals accused of masterminding a call-center scam targeting Australians has significant implications for political relations between Thailand and Australia, while also being a reminder of the ongoing need to combat such scams in the realm of business and commerce.
