Bangkok: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and the Ministry of Finance launched an operation to crack down on the “receive-exchange-fraud” scheme, thwarting a state rights fraud ring. They arrested corrupt merchants who were harassing people on social media about scams involving cash exchanges, and thwarted a plan to sabotage the “Kon La Khrueng Plus” scheme before it became widespread.
According to Thai News Agency, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance through the Fiscal Policy Office (FPO), led officers in arresting three suspects today: Ms. Wanthanee, 24 years old; Ms. Thipthawee, 31 years old; and Ms. Natasha, 26 years old. They also seized five mobile phones and one laptop computer.
The charges are: “Disagreeing or deceitfully entering distorted or falsified computer data, in whole or in part, or false computer data, into a computer system in a manner likely to cause damage to the public, which is not a defamation offense under the Criminal Code; entering false computer data into a computer system in a manner likely to cause damage to national security, public safety, the country’s economic stability, or public infrastructure, or causing public panic.”
The “Half-Half Plus” project, a government policy initiative, aims to stimulate the grassroots economy, generate income, reduce expenses, and lower the cost of living for the people. This will increase cash flow within the economic system. Furthermore, it will promote income for small businesses by selling goods and services via digital platforms, further enhancing trade and services in the digital age.
However, some individuals have taken the opportunity to engage in corrupt practices for personal gain, using social media as a means of advertising and inviting project participants to redeem their eligible funds without purchasing goods in accordance with the project’s terms and conditions. This distorts the government’s intention to stimulate the economy and encourage money circulation within the grassroots system.
In this case, the Ministry of Finance, through the Fiscal Policy Office (FPO), has been monitoring information and news regarding the project’s implementation via various social media channels. It has been discovered that individuals have posted public messages on the Facebook application inviting the general public to redeem cash instead of exercising their rights to pay for goods or services at their actual value. This constitutes an inducement for the public to commit an illegal act, violating the project’s rules and conditions, distorting the facts, objectives, and conditions of the project, demonstrating fraudulent intent, and misleading the public into believing that they can redeem the project’s funds for cash at merchants without having to spend or purchase goods. These false statements pose obstacles to the overall implementation of the project and prevent it from effectively stimulating the economy as targeted. The FPO has therefore filed a complaint with the investigating officer to prosecute the i
ndividuals who committed these offenses.
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) has therefore conducted investigations and inspections to deter and prevent those attempting to distort and exploit the “Half-Half Plus” project. The perpetrators were identified, who used social media to distort the truth about the project and advertised to encourage eligible citizens to exchange their eligible credit for cash instead of actual spending, with the difference deducted and the profits shared.
Evidence gathered led to the search and arrest of the perpetrators. The search and arrest resulted in the discovery of the three suspects identified in the warrants. They were also seized with relevant evidence, including laptops and mobile phones used to install the “Paotang” application, which was used to register merchants or communicate with customers using various channels to exchange money, as well as other important documents related to the crimes. The suspects were then handed over to investigators at Division 5, Technology Crime Suppression Division, for further legal proceedings.
Upon questioning the suspects, all three confessed to being the individuals in the warrant. Ms. Wanthanee confessed that she saw the information on social media and wanted to earn extra income. The other suspects denied the charges.
The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) would like to warn the public that the “Half-Half Plus” program aims to stimulate the grassroots economy and reduce people’s cost of living, as well as encourage small businesses to increase their income from selling goods and services. Please do not fall for any invitations to exchange project credits for cash, as this constitutes the entry of false information into a computer system (which carries a penalty of up to five years imprisonment, a fine of up to 100,000 baht, or both).
If the program’s credit limit is actually exchanged for cash, it will be considered a criminal offense for joint fraud by both the exchanger and the exchange recipient (with a penalty of up to three years imprisonment, a fine of up to 60,000 baht, or both). Furthermore, the exchanger’s eligibility to participate in other government programs will be suspended and the government will be required to reimburse the money. Therefore, do not fall victim to or participate in crimes simply because of greed over a small difference in the amount. Please exercise your rights only in accordance with the government’s terms and conditions.