Bad News for Con Artists in Thailand...

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Posted Yesterday, 07:22

Bt50m fund to aid tourists to be set up

Kwanhathai Malakan

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- A Bt50-million insurance fund will be set up on February 1, aimed at aiding foreign visitors in distress as the government strives to restore international confidence in tourism in Thailand.

After a meeting yesterday of the fund-preparation committee, Tanittha Sawetsila Maneechot, deputy permanent secretary for the Tourism Ministry, told reporters that the working group would ask the Finance Ministry for a Bt50-million budget, which would be used to help foreigners injured or killed in accidents while visiting here.

Pol General Vudh Liptapanlop from the National Police Office discussed with other agencies, including the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), Consumer Protection Board and Tourist Police about measures to protect foreign tourists from scams as part of preparations for the Asean Economic Community in 2015.

Police and other authorities would enforce laws against tourist swindlers, whose unscrupulous activities had long tainted Thailand's image, he said.

Because such crimes fell within the scope of public fraud, AMLO could seize their assets.

The past week saw a drop |in crime against tourists and many wanted suspects nabbed, |he said.

Police would continue to patrol and arrest con artists at prime tourist destinations such as Pattaya, Samui, Phuket and Chiang Mai, he added.

Thailand's Road Safety Centre, in response to a UK-based foundation's report that Thailand's road fatalities of tourists were high, has proposed the following measures:

nCooperation with Royal Thai Police, Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, embassies, related tourism associations and the Professional Tourist Guide Association of Thailand to reassess the death toll statistics and arrive at a more accurate cause of death;

nEnforcing rules monitoring tour buses, drivers, security equipment and safety systems;

nProviding a road safety handbook to tourists offering tips on staying safe when travelling overland, and encouragement for tourist destinations to improve road safety management through training course and setting up consultancy units.

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Consumer Protection Operations Center set up at Pattaya City Hall

Posted on January 28, 2013
 
Consumer Protection Operations Center set up at Pattaya City Hall

The Pattaya Mayor has had enough of receiving numerous complaints from Tourists and residents of Pattaya through social media websites and in-person regarding those who conduct dishonest business in Pattaya and has now set up a Consumer Protection Operation Center in conjunction with Consumer Protection Police to stop bad-practice of companies and individuals in Pattaya.

The Center was officially opened on Monday Afternoon at Pattaya City Hall by Police General Wutti, Senior Consultant to the National Police Commissioner who was shown the new Center by Pattaya’s Mayor, Khun Itipon.

The Mayor told us that he is listening to Thai and Foreign citizens who live and holiday in Pattaya and is well aware of persistent problems with Jet Ski Scams, Metered Taxi’s that refuse to use the Meters, Gem Scams, Baht Bus problems and other issues including those relating to the Real Estate Industry, and now, in conjunction with the Consumer Protection Police, he assures tourists, ex-pats and others who believe they have been the victim of a scam, that they can now do something about it.

The Center will work closely with local Police Divisions to ensure that any potential criminal investigations are undertaken in a speedy and professional manner as a result of any inquiries.

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Unlicensed arcade machines seized from Central Festival Pattaya Beach

Posted on January 31, 2013
 
Unlicensed arcade machines seized from Central Festival Pattaya
 
Three unlicensed arcade machines were seized from Central Festival Pattaya Beach late on Wednesday Night and a 61 year old woman, who was deemed to be responsible for the machines, was arrested.

The three arcade machines consisted of two controllers a TV Monitor and a Computer Tower locked inside the machine which was activated once a 10 Baht coin was placed in the slot.
 
The machines feature computer football games which are subject to copyright and cannot be re-distributed or re-sold without permission.

Each of the machines did not possess the correct certificates confirming they can be used in the arcade and were subsequently seized.

Police said they will prosecute the 61 year old woman in this case despite her claims she was unaware the machines were not legal.

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CRACKDOWN ON ALIENS

Taxi drivers trigger full inquest into all Phuket tour business

Thursday, January 31, 2013 8:31:29 PM

Any problems caused by foreigner-run tour agencies are to be reported directly to Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen.

PHUKET: -- Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada has ordered the Phuket Provincial Employment Office (PPEO) to inspect the business licenses of all tourism businesses across Phuket that have foreigners registered as part-owners.

The news follows an inspection raid of a single tour operator in Bang Tao, on Phuket’s central western coast, at the request of local taxi drivers yesterday.

The taxi drivers’ complaint: “foreign business operators” were [allegedly] stealing their jobs.

Vice Governor Chamroen joined PPEO Chief Yawapa Pibulpol in verifying the business license of the Marusya Travel office (website here) at Bang Tao, which was found to be fully compliant with the law.

“I visited Bang Tao today to see the problem with my own eyes. There are two issues that we still have to deal with…

“First, we have to check if foreign operators in the area have the correct business licenses and work permits.

Second, we have to find out if the foreign-owned businesses are still causing trouble for the local business operators,” Vice Governor Chamroen said.

“I have assigned officers from the Employment Office and those from other relevant organizations to verify the licenses of all foreign-owned businesses in Phuket and to identify any problems that they might be causing for local operators,” he added.

Any such problems are to be reported directly to V/Gov Chamroen so that he can establish a long-term solution.

Cherng Talay Taxi Network president Winai Jiruksa thanked V/Gov Chamroen for taking the issue seriously.

“I am glad that the Phuket government is supporting us and helping us to resolve the problem,” Mr Winai said.

“They obviously care about our problem and are taking serious action against illegal foreign business operators,” he added.

The raid yesterday followed a mob of taxi drivers at Bang Tao forcing the “voluntary” closure of a legally operated tourism business that focused on providing services to Russian tourists.
 
Marusya Travel, which has at least four offices in Phuket, also provides services to Russian tourists.

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UPDATE

Crackdown begins on illegal foreigners in Phuket

Maj Gen Choti Chavalviwat, Commander of Phuket Provincial Police.

PHUKET: -- Twelve foreigners, including people from Australia, Finland, Indonesia, Myammar, and the UK, were arrested yesterday (January 31) for working illegally in the island’s tourism industry, police said.

Their arrests came as Maj Gen Choti Chavalviwat, Commander of Phuket Provincial Police, announced an investigation into tour agencies, massage parlous and restaurants, as well as other businesses which are foreign owned or employ many foreign staff.

This was prompted by a protest on Monday in Bang Tao by Thai businesspeople, who said illegal foreign businesses were undercutting the market.

The Department of Labour, in conjunction with Phuket Immigration and the Phuket Police, started checking companies yesterday (January 31) based on random checks or tip-offs from the public.

The main focus will be on businesses that are foreign owned or operated, but Thai businesses that employ large numbers of foreigners will also be checked.

Beginning the crackdown, 12 foreigners were arrested yesterday for either not having a work permit, or doing a different job to what their work permit states.

Many were working in the tour industry as tour guides, taxi drivers or masseurs, police said. Their cases have been referred to the Phuket Provincial Court.

“I understand that foreigners want to work in Phuket, but they have to work correctly,” Maj Gen Choti told The Phuket News.

Mr Choti said the officials were also checking Thai shareholders in foreign-run companies.

Thai people listed as shareholders might need to show they genuinely had enough money to have been able to have invested in the company.

“The Bang Tao mob were very angry, and it is their right to be angry,” Maj Gen Choti said.

“Russians coming to travel is fine, but if they take Thai people’s careers and livelihoods by working illegally, that is not fair to the Thai people.

“Foreigners who live and work here have to show us their work permit if we do a check. If they have the correct permit, it is not a problem.”

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Two British Nationals caught with fake ATM cards in South Pattaya

 February 8, 2013

Two British Nationals were arrested on Friday Afternoon by Pattaya Police who received a report from the Siam Commercial Bank that the two men were withdrawing money using fake ATM cards.

The two men were using ATM’s on Pattaya Beach Road and Pattaya Second Road according to security cameras fitted to the machines.

Police were able to locate the pair in South Pattaya as they were in the process of withdrawing money.

Mr. Thevarajah Gnanaraj aged 36 originally from Polikandy in Sri Lanka and Mr. Narayanasamy Mohan aged 39 originally from Kilinochchi in Sri Lanka were detained and escorted to their hotel room number 514 at the Mike Beach Resort in Soi 4 off Pattaya Beach Road.

Inside the room were 134 cards which were thought to contain stolen bank account details.

A laptop computer and a device used to insert bank account details onto blank cards were seized along with 22,000 Baht in cash.

This was their first trip to Thailand and they were working for an agent based in France.

They further revealed that they had already sent over 2 Million Baht to the agent prior to them being caught.

Both are facing serious bank card fraud charges and await a Court appearance.

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3 Million Baht Russian Tour Company Scam reported to Pattaya Police Chief

Posted on February 23, 2013 at 10:01 am

3 Million Baht Russian Tour Company Scam reported to Pattaya Police Chief
 
A Russian Travel Agency is once again under the spotlight and is thought to have sold an estimated 3 Million Baht’s worth of non-existent tour packages to Russian Tourists.

The “World of Chang” Tour Company had been reported by American and Lativian Tourists to Pattaya Police on 17th February but now a further 10 Russian Tourists who were assisted by a Lawyer reported more cases involving the Tour Company which is owned by Miss Natalia Aleynikova aged 54, also from Russia. She is failing to answer phone calls and her shop, located in Soi Pattaya Park is currently closed.

Evidence was presented directly to Police Colonel Suwan, the Pattaya Police Chief in the early hours of Saturday at Pattaya Police Station.

He has promised that an application for an arrest warrant for Miss Aleynikova will be made at the Pattaya Provincial Court next week, based on the evidence presented to him.

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Published : March 29, 2013

Cops Nab German-Thai Couple Opening Illegal School
 
Police arrested a 45-year-old German man and his Thai wife for opening a German language school without a permit. Concerned parents notified the police after discovering the school was illegal. Police also found that the German has pending arrest warrants from his native country.

PATTAYA – March 29, 2013  At 12:20 a.m., a married couple was arrested for opening an illegal language school by Pol. Lt. Col. Phassakorn Phaijit, Deputy Superintendent, acting to assist the work of the Center of Protecting Children, Teenagers and Women, section 2; together with Pol. Lt. Col. Omsin Sukkarnkha, investigation officer; and Pol. Lt. Col. Kamol Thaweesri, Inspector.

The suspects were identified as Mr. Ralph Vias, age 45, nationality Germany; and Mrs. Phayao Vias, age 39. The couple are the owners of the German International School, address 8/109-134 Soi Nong Hin, Moo 9 Tambon Nong Preu, Amphur Banglamung, Chonburi province.

Police had been notified by more than 10 parents that the school did not have a work permission card, and made false advertising claims.

One of the complaining parents, Mrs. Siriyaboon Songsaeng, age 34, said that she and her foreign husband had sent her son, age 3 years old, to study in the kindergarten level. The school claimed that if students progressed and graduated from secondary school grade 6 at their language school, they will be able to continue studying in German.

So the parents paid more than 100,000 THB to the school to enroll their son. But when later checking on the school, the parents discovered the school did not have a work permission card. Fearful of being cheated, the worried parents joined together to notify the police.

After receiving the complaints, the police gathered evidence on the school, and asked the court to issue the arrest warrant. While later checking the history of Mr. Ralph, police found that he had arrest warrants from his native Germany involving many criminal cases.

Initially, the police charged Mr. Ralph in an accusation of cheating people and sent him to prosecute. Police also coordinated with officers of the German embassy to acknowledge his arrest.

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Posted Today, 09:52
Phuket Gazette

DSI turns to Facebook to catch illegal foreigners in Phuket

DSI Deputy Director-general Yanapol Yungyuen is considering using Facebook to catch foreigners working illegally in Thailand.

PHUKET: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is considering launching a Facebook page so that people can report foreigners working illegally in Thailand by uploading photos directly onto the Internet.

The news came after DSI Deputy Director-general Yanapol Yungyuen heard a slew of complaints from Phuket business owners at a meeting in Cherng Talay yesterday.

“I will open an official email address to specifically receive complaints, and we can also start a Facebook page, which might be easier for users to upload photos and tag them,” Pol Col Yanapol said.

“If anyone sees a foreigner working without a work permit or working in an occupation reserved for Thais, please take a photo of them and send it to us,” he urged.

After making it clear that foreign guides were still operating seemingly unhindered in Phuket, Supachai Wattanaparinton, Vice-President of the Phuket Professional Guide Association (PGA), went on to bring up the issue of Thai nominees.

“Foreigners use Thai people to register companies, but only give them a little money in return.
 
I saw a woman who was the ‘owner’ of a tourist company riding an old motorbike and living in a tiny rental room,” Mr Supachai said to illustrate his point.

“I hear that tourism can generate a great deal of income for Thailand, but in fact, very little of that money from tourism goes to Thais.
The money paid upfront in countries abroad never enters Thailand,” he told those at the meeting.

“Thais can generate a little money through transportation and shopping, but now foreigners also are coming to 'steal' that income from us,” he added.

Samart Duwao, a taxi driver, brought the DSI’s attention to the fact that it is easy for foreigners to operate black plate taxis to and from the airport.

“A foreigner can just rent a car and pick up passengers at the airport.
It’s too hard for law enforcement agencies to check because they can just claim they are picking up a friend,” Mr Samart explained.

“I want government officers to look into this problem,” he said.

Kitti Panmai, a restaurant owner who attended the meeting, expressed his concern not that foreigners were operating restaurants, but was worried that restaurant reviews were written on the wrong criteria.

“Please do not slander a restaurant because those working their can’t speak your native tongue.
Restaurants should be compared based on the quality and taste of their food,” he told those present.

Col Yanapol set to address the many concerns expressed at the meeting as it drew to a close.

“About the taxi situation, I would suggest using meters to provide transparency and show passengers that you are giving them a fair price so they trust the services of local taxis. As for the restaurants, I don’t see this as a critical situation,” Col Yanapol explained.

“Government officers need the cooperation of every department, as well as villagers, in tackling these problems,” he said.
“I’m afraid we will affect the tourism image of Thailand, but this will not affect the income of Thais too much, because tourists pay for tour packages in their home country.”

“Every service that a company uses should be reasonably taxed, because it will provide revenue for Thailand – Thailand must receive full benefits from the tourism industry,” Col Yanapol said.

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Phuket: Call for Commerce, Revenue to target nominee companies

BANGKOK: -- The Tourist Police Division has called on the Commerce Ministry and the Revenue Department to inspect tourism-related businesses run by foreigners in Thailand.

Pol Maj Gen Roy Inkapairoj, commander of the Tourist Police, said on Sunday (May 5) that foreigners were using Thai nominees to open businesses such as restaurants, hotels, massage shops and jewellery shops.

Relevant agencies such as the Commerce Ministry and the Revenue Department should check the stakeholders of these businesses and their tax records and see whether they are legitimate because they are "hurting the image of Thai tourism", he said.

"Tourists buy their products and services and the revenue goes to the foreign owners instead of the Thai economy," Pol Maj Gen Roy said.

He said changes to investment laws might be necessary to suppress the nominee companies.

"Many foreign investors who run nominee companies here are from Russia, India and China and the number is increasing," he said.

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DSI arranges for arrest of Swiss bank robber who fled into Thailand



BANGKOK, 17 May 2013   

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) announced that it arrested the leader of a gang of bank robbers who had stolen around 20 million baht from a Swiss bank and fled to Thailand.

SI Director-General Tharit Phengdit said Enzo Greber entered Thailand on March 19 after masterminding a bank robbery.

The arrest was a collaborative effort of 3 agencies, comprising the DSI, the national police headquarters, and police at the Swiss Embassy in Thailand.

According to investigators, Mr. Greber used the money from the robbery to buy a house in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khirikhan to live with his Thai wife.

Aside from the house, officials discovered 4 million Thai baht in various bank accounts, 60,000 Swiss francs, 13.4 baht-weight of gold ornaments, and 19 motor vehicles that Mr. Greber purchased with the money stolen from the Swiss bank.

Mr. Tharit said the assets would be returned to Swiss authorities, and Thai officials were investigating how the man managed to smuggle the money into Thailand.

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Crime - Update: 18 May 2013

DSI nabs Swiss for bank robbery, seizes assets



Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has confiscated the assets of a Swiss national who was arrested in Thailand for robbing a bank in his home country.

Gerber Enzo, 42, was apprehended in Hua Hin on Thursday after hiding in Thailand since March 19.

A DSI official said Friday that Enzo's Thai wife purchased assets including a large house, as well as 19 cars and motorcycles.

The Swiss national entered Thailand through Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The robbery of a bank in Bern was estimated at about Bt150 million (US$640,000).

Enzo was arrested and initially charged with overstaying his visa in the kingdom.

He has been on the Thai Immigration Department's blacklist and will be deported to Switzerland soon, official said.

The DSI will coordinate with the AntiMoney Laundering Office to determine if the couple's possession of the assets violates the AntiMoney Laundering Act.

If so, legal action will be taken against Enzo's wife, the official said.

Enzo confessed to the bank robbery and said his accomplices had gone separate ways after they divided their takings, official said.

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Police Arrest Iranian Thief Just Escaping To Malaysia



BANGKOK – May 18, 2013 [PDN]; Various police chiefs and commanders held a press conference regarding the arrest of Iranian Mr. Oodi Rishak.

A warrant of arrest was issued on May 12, 2012 for stealing from tourists in Bangkok, he then escaped from the Thai police.

Police Maj. General Chaiwat said the Mr. Oodi went to steal possessions of tourists in different areas, such as Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai.

He tends to befriend the tourists and offers the tourists to find a hotel or guest house for them to stay in.

After finding a place for them to stay, he will go back to the tourist’s hotel and asks the reception to open the room for him.
 
The reception thought that he came with the tourists, so they opened the room him. Making him able to easily steal their possessions.

As soon as he finished stealing their possessions, he immediately escapes to Malaysia to hide.

He goes back and forth from Malaysia to Thailand in order to do the same crimes repeatedly again.

He committed his latest crime on May 9 of this year on 3 Kuwaiti tourists. He used the same method he used for all of his previous crimes, but just before he went to escape to Malaysia, he was captured by Thai police.

Police were informed that he was still in the area were he tricked the 3 Kuwaitis, so police waited for him to appear before arresting him.

He is now in Police custody at Lumpini Police Station and will now charged for various crimes.

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Thai police arrest suspected Italian fraudster on Interpol request

CHIANG MAI: -- Thai police have arrested an Italian national on suspicion of defrauding millions of dollars from Italian financial institutions and other crimes, police said Thursday.

Stefano Raccaqni, 38, was arrested on Tuesday in Chiang Mai, 600 kilometres north of Bangkok, on a request from Italy via Interpol.

He faces charges of defrauding Italian banks and finance companies of more than 8.6 million dollars, said Police Major General Chitsanupong Yuktathad, deputy commissioner of Thailand’s immigration police.

"We have revoked Raccaqni’s visa and will deport him to Italy," Chitsanupong said.

Raccaqni is also charged with assisting tax evasion and smuggling people into Italy

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Interpol to lead piracy crackdown

BANGKOK: -- Thai police will be joining the Interpol-led weeklong crackdown on pirated goods.

Also participating are Bangladesh, Fiji, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Police adviser Pol General Chalermkiat Sriworakhan said officers will raid eight areas in Bangkok, namely the Khlong Thom Market, Ban Mor, Saphan Lek, MBK, Pantip, Sukhumvit Sois 13-19, Silom and Soi Patpong.

Raids are also planned for Pattaya, Phuket, Samui, Hua Hin, and Chiang Mai.

The Nation