Koh Phangan: Police raided and arrested a couple, known as 'Humans with a Hundred Names,' who claimed to be police officers and extorted money from people, businessmen, and entrepreneurs in a southern tourist city. More than 2,000 victims fell for the scam.
According to Thai News Agency, immigration police apprehended Mr. Suchart or Num, 41, from Sichon District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, and Ms. Supatra, 24, his wife. They were wanted on an arrest warrant from the Koh Samui Provincial Court on charges of fraud by impersonating another person. The arrests took place in Non Sang District, Nong Bang Lamphu Province, before the couple was transported back for questioning at the Koh Phangan Police Station in Surat Thani Province. This was due to numerous business owners on Koh Phangan falling victim to the scam. Subsequently, the suspects were taken to the Koh Samui Provincial Court for detention.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Nattakorn Prapayon, deputy commander of the Immigration Bureau, disclosed that Mr. Suchart and Ms. Supattra impersonated government officials, including police officers from almost every provincial police region nationwide. They pretended to be from special forces such as the Special Branch Police, Marine Police, Crime Suppression Division Police, Tourist Police, and Immigration Police, extorting benefits from over 2,000 business operators in southern tourist provinces.
The couple often used names like Police Lieutenant Wat, Police Lieutenant Sak, or Police Lieutenant Chat, speaking deceptively to solicit financial support under various pretenses. These included organizing catering for units during festivals, traveling to inspect government work, or asking for personal loans, all while threatening businesses with fictitious legal risks. This led many Thai and foreign citizens to believe they were legitimate officials, resulting in money transfers to accounts specified by the accused. The scam persisted for more than a decade before the authorities traced the destination accounts and detained the couple for questioning, confirming their fraudulent activities.
The financial impact of the scam is estimated to be in the millions of baht, with victims losing between 5,000 to 20,000 baht each. Victims have emphasized that the Royal Thai Police never solicits public or business support over the phone, especially during economic downturns.
A background check revealed that in 2018, Mr. Suchart was arrested by the Pattaya Tourist Police on similar fraud charges. Despite multiple arrests that year, he continued to commit the crime after being released from prison. The public is advised to be vigilant against such scams, ensuring they do not fall victim to similar fraud schemes by verifying any suspicious claims with official agencies and contacting authorities if necessary.