Chiang Mai: Chiang Mai tourist police have successfully apprehended a call center gang that was deceiving tourists through a fraudulent Facebook page offering fake accommodation bookings at popular tourist spots in the province. This operation resulted in financial losses amounting to up to 300,000 baht per day, with the illicit funds being funneled through more than 50 mule accounts over a period of six months.
According to Thai News Agency, the Chiang Mai Tourist Police, armed with an arrest warrant from the Chiang Mai Court, tracked and captured Mr. Boon, an ethnic young man, in a rented room near the border in Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai Province. Mr. Boon faces charges of joint fraud and violations of the Computer Crimes Act related to online fraud. Authorities seized evidence including nine mobile phones, a cash counting machine, 20,000 baht in cash, bank account books, and multiple cash cards hidden in a wardrobe.
The investigation has expanded to include the arrest of three additional individuals who opened mule accounts to facilitate the money transfers. Authorities are continuing their investigation, particularly focusing on those who provided mule accounts and mobile phones for the criminal activities.
Pol. Lt. Col. Awirut Sukyam, the inspector of Division 2, Tourist Police Division 2, played a key role in the operation by disguising himself as a food delivery rider to approach the suspects. The gang had been deceiving tourists by offering fake accommodation bookings through a Facebook page, particularly affecting tourists during the high season. Victims were tricked into paying deposits, only to discover upon arrival that no accommodation existed. The Tourist Police vigilantly monitored and tracked the perpetrators until their location was uncovered. Pol. Lt. Col. Awirut's disguise allowed him to successfully apprehend Mr. Boon at the scene.
The gang's operations were systematically organized, starting with fake Facebook pages that lured tourists into transferring money for non-existent accommodations. The victims' money was initially deposited into a 'money holding account' before being moved to a 'withdrawal account.' This method allowed the gang to withdraw cash using a financial application that bypassed commercial banks, avoiding face scanning when withdrawals exceeded the system's daily limit of 50,000 baht.
During questioning, Mr. Boon confessed to his role in withdrawing money from mule accounts. He explained that upon receiving a notification in a LINE group of a transfer between 20,000 and 30,000 baht, he would promptly withdraw cash from ATMs to prevent the accounts from being frozen. The collected money, amounting to 200,000-300,000 baht daily, was then handed over to a Myanmar recipient in Tachilek, Myanmar. Mr. Boon had been involved in these activities for about six months, earning 60,000 baht monthly, and using mule accounts to receive transfers from victims, with most accounts being frozen shortly after use. The police have taken Mr. Boon into custody, and he has been transferred to the Chiang Mai City Police Station for further legal proceedings.