Cyber Police bust 2 Chinese scammers using luxury Pattaya condo for scams

Thairath•Society•257d ago

Reader Briefing

Thai Cyber Police apprehended two Chinese nationals in Pattaya for operating an online scam syndicate targeting Chinese citizens.

•Two Chinese individuals were arrested in a luxury Pattaya condominium for running investment and romance scam operations.
•The suspects allegedly used the condo as a base to target Chinese victims through online deception.
•Authorities seized cash, numerous mobile phones, laptops, and other equipment used in the scams.

Overview

•On Jan 30, Cyber Police conducted a raid on a luxury condominium in Pattaya.
•Thai Cyber Police, along with immigration investigators, arrested Mr. Liu Meng and Mr. Shao Zhong.
•The suspects were apprehended in a condominium located in Moo 12, Nongprue Subdistrict, Banglamung District, Chonburi Province.
•The operation was a result of intelligence indicating Chinese nationals were operating a call center scam syndicate.
•Authorities seized 103,400 THB, 26 mobile phones, 2 laptops, 1 internet router, and 4 logbooks.
•The suspects admitted to using the seized devices for investment and romance scams targeting Chinese nationals.
•Cyber Police plan to investigate further to identify and apprehend other members of the criminal network.
•Authorities are examining financial trails to confiscate assets obtained through illegal activities.

Full article content is available on the original source.

Read on Thairath (Thai Version)Read on Thairath (English Version)

Source: Thairath (Original)

Key Quotes

Mr. Liu Meng

"The phones and equipment found were used to scam other Chinese nationals through investment and romance scams."

โทรศัพท์และอุปกรณ์ที่ตรวจพบใช้สำหรับหลอกลวงคนจีนด้วยกันในรูปแบบการหลอกลงทุนสินค้า และโรแมนซ์สแกม

Mr. Shao Zhong

"These phones are not mine, therefore I do not know the passcodes."

โทรศัพท์ทั้งหมดไม่ใช่ของตน จึงไม่ทราบรหัสผ่าน

Key Entities

Organization

Cyber Police(ตร.ไซเบอร์)

Thai law enforcement agency specializing in cybercrimes and online fraud.

CCIB Div 4(บก.สอท.4)

Division 4 of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau, responsible for the investigation and raid.

Immigration Bureau 3(ตม.3)

A unit of the Immigration Bureau that assisted in the operation.

Pattaya Provincial Court(ศาลจังหวัดพัทยา)

The judicial body that issued the search warrant for the raid.

Person

2 Chinese Scammers(2 จีนเทา)

Two Chinese nationals arrested for operating an online scam syndicate.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Suraphong Prembutr(พล.ต.ท.สุรพล เปรมบุตร)

Commissioner of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) who ordered the operation.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Naradet Thipparak(พล.ต.ท.นราเดช ทิพย์รักษ์)

Deputy Commissioner General attached to the Police Commissioning Office, assisting the CCIB.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Wiwat Khamchanan(พล.ต.ต.วิวัฒน์ คำชำนาญ)

Deputy Commissioner of the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) who supervised the operation.

Pol. Maj. Gen. Krittat Bamrungrat(พล.ต.ต.กฤตัชญ์ บำรุงรัตนยศ)

Commander of Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau Division 4 (CCIB Div 4) who led the raid.

Pol. Col. Supakorn Thanyakam(พ.ต.อ.ศุภกร ธัญญกรรม)

Deputy Commander of Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau Division 4 (CCIB Div 4) who participated in the raid.

Mr. Liu Meng

A 39-year-old Chinese national arrested in Pattaya for involvement in investment and romance scams.

Mr. Shao Zhong

A 49-year-old Chinese national arrested in Pattaya for involvement in investment and romance scams.

Place

Pattaya(พัทยา)ℹ️

The city in Chonburi Province, Thailand, where the scam operation was based.

Moo 12, Nongprue Subdistrict, Banglamung District, Chonburi Province(ม.12 ต.หนองปรือ อ.บางละมุง จ.ชลบุรี)

The specific location in Pattaya where the suspects' condominium was situated.

Law

Foreigner staying in the Kingdom beyond permit(บุคคลต่างด้าวอยู่ในราชอาณาจักรโดยการอนุญาตสิ้นสุด)

The charge filed against Mr. Liu Meng for overstaying his visa by 260 days.

Section 37(มาตรา 37)

The section of law under which Mr. Shao Zhong was charged for failing to report a change of address.