Crime

Police Bust Multi-Million Dollar Online Gold Scam, 26 Arrested

Published

1 year ago

November 1, 2023

Bchcomber

Police in Thailand have apprehended a Chinese gold scam gang that used the identity of a reputable jewellery company to dupe people into a phoney million dollar gold investment plan.

Police raided 21 locations in Bangkok, Chon Buri, and Chiang Mai which resulted in the arrest of 26 individuals, including six Chinese nationals, according to Central Investigation Bureau chief Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej on Tuesday. The case involved a total of 50 suspects.

The gold scammers utilised the identity of a well-known jewellery manufacturing company, Aurora Design in Thailand, to lure victims.

Aixia Liu, 48, Long Huabiao, 38, Yangfeng Xiao, 29, Liang Wang, 28, and Sakuna Chansuk, 44, were the gold scam leaders, according to the Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop. The individuals from China were captured in Bangkok and Chon Buri. The other two Chinese nationals were not named.

gold scam Thailand

The gang set up a bogus Aurora Design Facebook profile, promising 20-30% investment returns. When investors attempted to take their promised gains, they were blocked and all communication was terminated.

According to Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop, the majority of the arrested suspects denied the charges. Police seized cryptocurrencies worth around 28 million baht found in their custody for analysis.

“Investigators found that the group had more than 1.2 billion baht in circulation,” the official stated. The gang used Thai proxies to run three fake firms that handled its money.

According to the CIB chief, victims’ funds were transferred into foreigners’ accounts via three levels of Thai mule accounts. Some of the funds were spent in Thailand and on foreign purchases. The commodities were delivered to Cambodia and Laos and sold for cash. The victims’ money was also utilised to invest in cryptocurrencies or to purchase real estate.

Unlike call-scam ringleaders that operate from surrounding countries, this group is based in Thailand, according to Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop. The probe was still going on.

gold scams Thailand

Gold Scams in Thailand

Gold scams in Thailand, like in many other parts of the world, can take various forms and can be perpetrated by individuals, businesses, or even organized criminal groups. It’s important to be aware of these scams to protect yourself from falling victim to them. Here are some common gold scams in Thailand:

Fake Gold Jewelry: Scammers may sell fake gold jewelry to unsuspecting buyers. They might use low-quality gold-plated items or alloys that look like genuine gold. Always buy gold jewelry from reputable jewelers and have items independently appraised if necessary.
Investment Schemes: Some scams involve enticing individuals to invest in gold with promises of high returns. These schemes may be Ponzi or pyramid schemes, where early investors are paid with the money from later investors. Be cautious of any investment opportunities that seem too good to be true.
Fake Gold Bars or Coins: Scammers might sell counterfeit gold bars or coins that appear to be genuine. It’s essential to purchase gold from reputable dealers or banks and verify the authenticity of the items.
Overpriced Gold: Some businesses may overcharge customers for gold, taking advantage of their lack of knowledge about the current market prices. It’s essential to research the current market rates for gold before making a purchase.
Bait-and-Switch: Unscrupulous dealers might show customers a high-quality gold item and then switch it with a lower-quality one when packaging it for purchase. Always examine the item thoroughly before finalizing any transaction.
Pawn Shop Scams: Be cautious when pawning gold items, as some pawn shops may undervalue your gold or use deceptive weighing scales to offer less money than the gold is worth.
Online Scams: Scammers may operate online marketplaces where they sell gold items that don’t exist. It’s crucial to verify the credibility of online sellers and use secure payment methods.

To protect yourself from gold scams in Thailand or any other location, follow these tips:

Deal with reputable and established gold dealers or jewelers.
Verify the authenticity of gold items with a professional appraiser if needed.
Be skeptical of “get-rich-quick” schemes related to gold investments.
Educate yourself about the current market prices of gold.
Carefully inspect any gold items before purchase.
Use secure payment methods for online transactions.

If you suspect you’ve fallen victim to a gold scam in Thailand, report it to local authorities and seek legal advice to pursue appropriate action against the scammers.

Crime

Police Officer Being Ordained at Temple Arrested for Running Scam Call Center

Published

7 months ago

July 20, 2024

Thomas3940

Police Officer Being Ordained at Temple Arrested

Police in Northern Thailand have arrested a fellow officer as he was being ordained at a temple in Ngao district of neighbouring Lampang province.

Contents

Pol Lt Col Bandit Khonkan chief inspector from the Hang Dong police station was disrobed and taken to the Chang Puak station in Chiang Mai. He was arrested on charges of running a call centre scam gang in Chiang Mai Province.

According to Thai Media Chiang Mai Provincial Police Region 5 obtained an arrest warrant for Pol Lt Col Bandit on Friday from the Chiang Mai Provincial Court for procuring illegal telecom equipment, setting up a station and using public airwaves to run a telecommunications business without permission.

Pol Lt Col Bandit reportedly told investigators that he was not the ringleader and was only a member of the gang with Chinese partners.

His arrest followed the apprehension of his 26-year-old daughter, Miss Wanuchapond, 26, and three others during raids at three housing projects in Chiang Mai on Friday, Pol Maj Gen Weerachon Boontawee, deputy chief of Provincial Police Region 5 told Thai media.

During the raids police police discovered around 12 GSM gateways, or SIM boxes, which are devices used for converting cellular networks into mobile phone numbers used domestically.

The chief inspectors daughter Miss Wanuchapond told the arresting officers that she was paid 8,000 baht a month at each of the three locations for renting thr rooms and monitoring devices.

She claimed she had no idea what the devices were and accepted the job because the pay was attractive.

Police investigators working with telecom regulators used a special tracking device to monitor the gang’s communications and learned that its base was in Myanmar opposite Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai.

The call center gang used the GSM gateways to make calls over the internet to scam people in Thailand out of million of baht.

The GSM gateways transmitting signals via SIM boxes to convert them into domestic phone numbers, duping victims into thinking they were being called from Thai government agencies.

Pol Maj Gen Weerachon said that each SIM box held 32 SIM cards, with a capacity of up to 300,000 calls a month. The seized devices had made fraudulent calls over 3.6 million times.

He said the their investigation is ongoing and they are working to track down the remaining conspirators, including Chinese and other Thai suspects.

Authorities are still deciding whether Pol Lt Col Bandit will be dismissed from the force, he said, adding that so far, no other officers are known to have been involved.

Police in Chiang Rai Launch Crackdown on Cyber Criminals in Golden Triangle

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Settha Thavisin has authorized the establishment of an emergency cyber center operated by the Royal Thai Police to combat transnational crimes committed by call center gangs along the Thai border in Chiang Rai province.

On July 19, Prime Minister Settha Thavisin directed the Center to combat information technology crimes. The Royal Thai Police (Royal Thai Police) will crack down on call center gangs in Myanmar, Laos, and along the border.

His directive comes as call center gangs ratchet up their scams to defraud people of their money, causing concern among Thais and jeopardizing the country’s economic and social stability.

Machete Wielding Man Shot an Killed by Police in Chiang Rai

https://www.chiangraitimes.com/chiangrai-news/machete-wielding-man-shot-an-killed-by-police-in-chiang-rai/

Crime

Thai Immigration Police Arrest Colombian Tourists Over Home Invasions

Published

7 months ago

July 20, 2024

Thomas3940

Thai Immigration Police Arrest Colombian Tourist

Immigration police officers have arrested four Colombian nationals in connection with a series of home burglaries at luxury housing complexes in the Bangkok metropolitan area and Chiang Buri Province.

Contents

Police called to home invasion Other Bangkok News:Police in Bangkok Discover Six Vietnamese Tourists Dead in 5 Star Hotel

Pol Maj Gen Panthana Nuchanart, deputy commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, told a press briefing that three of the suspects were apprehended in Nonthaburi Province and the fourth in South Pattaya, Chon Buri Province.

According to the Bangkok Post, the Colombians were charged with stealing conspiracy and seized around 3 million baht (US$82,500.00).

According to Pol Maj Gen Panthana, the criminals rode motorcycles through housing estates, scoping out the properties and waiting for the owners to depart before committing their crimes.

He stated that all four of the accused denied any involvement in the home break-ins, but the arresting squad discovered evidence that implicated them.

Police called to home invasion

Meanwhile, police were dispatched to a luxury housing development in Tambon Nong Prue, Chonburi Province, after a Chinese man was attacked during a house invasion.

When they arrived, they discovered the house owner, Mr. Qian Peng Yi, visibly scared and with marks from being tied up with a cable. He informed police that three Chinese males broke into his home at 9 p.m., one of whom brandished a gun at him and directed him to his bedroom.

They bound his hands and feet, gagged him with fabric, taped his head, and forced him into the bed. The intruders then attempted to compel him into transferring 10 million baht in cryptocurrencies to them, endangering the life of his 33-year-old cousin who was in a second-floor bedroom.

While they scoured the house in search of riches, Mr. Peng Yi managed to flee and hide; he subsequently observed them leave with his cousin. Officials investigated the property and analyzed security camera footage from the incident and surrounding areas.

Around 9 p.m., a 30-year-old van driver came at the Bang Lamung police station after being contacted by an agency to carry Chinese customers from Pattaya to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The driver informed authorities that he was supposed to pick them up at a motel about a kilometer from the Chinese businessman’s home. He then drove them to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport, arriving at 1 a.m. and receiving 1,800 baht.

The driver took a snapshot of the group smoking at the airport gate and identified one of them as the victim’s cousin. Police suspected coordination between her and the three suspects in her cousin’s heist, who all departed Thailand on the same aircraft.

Other Bangkok News:

Police in Bangkok Discover Six Vietnamese Tourists Dead in 5 Star Hotel

Police in Bangkok Discover Six Vietnamese Tourists Dead in 5 Star Hotel

Crime

Son of Thailand’s Leading Legal Scholar on Corruption Arrested for Running Online Gambling Network

Published

7 months ago

July 17, 2024

Thomas3940

The son of a former senator and leading economist and expert on corruption and gambling in Thailand has been arrested for on charges of running an online gambling network and its payment system.

Contents

Police from Thailand’s Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) have confiscated assets worth more than (US$ 11.1 million) 400 million baht.

Narote Piriyarangsan, 33, was arrested following crackdowns in three sites around the city, according to Pol Maj Gen Athip Pongsiwapai, commander of the police Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD).

Mr Narote’s father, Sangsit Piriyarangsan, is an economist who has written articles and books about corruption and gambling. He was one of the appointed senators that were investigating the government’s intention to legalize casino gaming before their terms expired.

Police also detained 39-year-old Narayut Narakaew, the owner of the gambling website 69pgslot.com. The Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for the couple for operating an internet gambling service and money laundering.

According to the Bangkok Post, police seized two desktop computers, one laptop computer, 14 mobile phones, 21 bank passbooks, 53 ATM cards, and four high-end cars — a Ferrari 926 GTS, an Aston Martin, a Lexus, and a Subaru — totaling more than 400 million baht.

Police launched the inquiry after discovering the online gambling site, which accepted funds via an automatic deposit-withdrawal system through bank accounts and deposits in the AskMePay system. Players scanned the VPay QR code as well as the QR codes for Heng Online 888 or Heng Pay Company.

Police also discovered that payments received via QR code scans were transferred to the account of Heng Pay Co and then to the gambling website’s mule accounts using AskMePay, which did not use banks’ face recognition scanning. An inquiry indicated a monthly turnover of approximately 5 billion baht.

According to investigators, the website has been up and running for around four years, with the payment mechanism in use for roughly eight months.

According to Pol Maj Gen Athip, Mr Narote owns the gaming website’s payment systems and is the director of Heng Pay Co. After gathering evidence, authorities requested arrest warrants for 14 people.

Thailand does not allow almost any kind of gaming. Even though the law doesn’t say anything specific about online gaming, it is still considered gambling. The country has pretty strict rules about gambling. Thai punters can bet on the national lottery and horse races, but they can’t bet on any other types of games.

But it’s not a secret that there is a huge illegal gaming business in Thailand, even though it’s illegal.

The illegal casinos, online betting shops, underground lotteries, and pop-up bookies that take bets on everything from cockfights to Muay Thai make a shadow economy that is worth billions of dollars every year.