Bangkok: The Crime Suppression Division has announced a significant breakthrough in its operation against a call center gang that orchestrated an elaborate scheme to defraud nearly 400 victims by tricking them into opening debit cards and misappropriating their funds. The operation, which culminated in the arrest of three men, uncovered damages amounting to 20 million baht.
According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Col. Witthaya Sriprasertphap, Commander of the Crime Suppression Division, detailed the operation's success in apprehending the suspects involved in the scheme. The arrested individuals, identified as Mr. Korakot, 29, Mr. Kritnai, 28, and Mr. Paponthi, 30, were charged with defrauding the public and improperly using electronic cards. The police also seized 53 items of evidence, including luxury cars, mobile phones, notebook computers, and other valuable items. The arrests took place at various locations, including a condominium in Bangkok and a residence in Lop Buri Province.
In this case, the investigation was prompted by a tip-off from Krungthai Bank's investigation department. The department reported incidents where bank customers were deceived by criminals posing as bank officers, encouraging them to apply for cards online under false pretenses. Victims were led to believe that they could obtain credit or debit cards without fees, only to find their card balances drained by unauthorized online purchases.
The investigation revealed that this fraud was carried out by a call center-style gang that operated across multiple provinces, including Bangkok, Lop Buri, and Pathum Thani. The criminals recorded victims' card details during video calls and used them to make online purchases. Once an OTP code was sent to the victim's phone, the perpetrators intercepted it to complete transactions, leaving victims with depleted accounts.
During questioning, one suspect claimed he had been previously deceived in a similar manner and decided to adopt the tactic himself. However, the police remained skeptical of this explanation, suspecting a connection to a larger call center gang operating from a neighboring country. The operation had been ongoing since 2023, with the suspects using the ill-gotten gains as their primary source of income. Despite their substantial criminal earnings, a recent check of the suspect's account revealed less than ten thousand baht remaining, highlighting the scale of their fraudulent activities against nearly 400 victims.