Bad News for Con Artists in Thailand...

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Major tax invoice forgery scam busted



BANGKOK, June 6 – Thai police have made an arrest in a major falsified tax invoice scam and seized evidence of fake tax invoices of goods valued almost Bt3 billion.

Sathit Rangkasiri, director-general of the revenue department, and Pol Col Chainarong Charoenchainao, deputy commander of the economic crime division told a news conference on Wednesday of the arrest of Phisit Prachakchaikul and confiscation of forged tax invoices of goods worth Bt2.9 billion with value added tax of about Bt207 million.

It is the biggest such case in two years.

The arrest followed a tip about a fraudulent tax invoice business ring, which caused heavy tax losses to the state.

Following the investigation, the police contacted the suspect and pretended to buy fake tax invoices, leading to the arrest of the suspect.

The authorities also checked information and tracked the suspect’s customers in many businesses such as in the construction sector.

Mr Sathit added that violators are subject to imprisonment of three months to seven years and a fine of Bt2,000 to a maximum of Bt 200,000.

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Nepali fraud gang nabbed

Bangkok, 24 June 2013, 

Tourist Police have arrested a Nepali running an unauthorized employment agency in Bangkok.

Police said the arrest of the suspect Mr.Bibek Bantawa, whose real name is Mr.Kishor Rai, was made after several complaints surfaced, causing the criminal court to issue an arrest warrant.

15 passbooks, 23 ATM cards were confiscated during the arrest of Mr. Bantawan at his office in Yanawa Distict. He is charged with human trafficking.

According to the police, the employment agency has cheated his customers out of a large sum of money from it clients, promising them employment in the countries such as the U.S., Canada, and Macao.

Authorities said most of the complaints have been made by Nepalis to their embassy. One victim in particular, Pawan Phurong was swindled out of 540,000 baht that was supposed to be invested in a restaurant in Thailand.

Initial investigation pointed out that the deceiver had met Mr. Pawan in China before, and had convinced him to invest in Thailand.
Not long after the money had been transferred, Mr. Bantawan cut off all communications, attempting to get away with Mr. Pawan's money.

Police are still hunting for 6 other accomplices of Mr. Bantawan.

NNT

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Russian arrested in ATM card scam



BANGKOK July 10

A Russian man was arrested for scam of using pirated ATM cards to withdraw cash from cash machines in Thailand.

Police said Sergey Afanasyev, 51-year-old suspect, confessed that he used Thailand as a venue to commit crime, for he fit is easy to enter and leave the country and there are many ATM machines here.

Among the seized items were 129 electronic data cards, a skimmer and a notebook computer.

The arrest occurred following a previous apprehension of a foreigner with a similar foreign credit card scam.

Police said there are many scam groups for this type of crime owing to many ATM machines in the country.

The Russian suspect was apprehended because he had been noticed at a particular ATM machine six times, using many different cards at one time to withdraw cash. Suspecting him, police searched and then arrested him.

Mr Afanasyev said he had entered Thailand only recently and claimed it was his first time here.

He withdrew funds near Bangkok department stores at Siam Paragon, Amarin Plaza and the Emporium.

He made six cash withdrawal visits to each machine.

The man said he did the crime with friends overseas, using passwords and foreign card codes registered in the European Union sent to him by his gang members.

Each electronic card was scanned through a skimmer to transfer data before the card is used to withdraw cash.

The suspect was initially charged with making counterfeit electronic cards.

MCOT

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Indian pair face Thai drug smuggling charges

BANGKOK, July 26, 2013 (AFP) - Two Indian men have been arrested and charged in Thailand with trafficking crystal methamphetamine worth an estimated $1.4 million, a customs official said Friday.

The suspects were detained Thursday on the holiday island of Samui after flying in from Chennai in southern India via Singapore.

Custom authorities said they had found 12.3 kilos (27 pounds) of methamphetamine hydrochloride, known as "Ice", in their luggage.

Traffickers often try to smuggle drugs though regional airports as security is tight at Bangkok's main air gateway, said Paisal Chuenjit, director of the Customs Department's Investigation and Suppression Bureau.

"I'm sure that part of the drugs were destined for users in Bangkok because Ice is popular among wealthy people," he added.

He said both suspects had confessed that they were hired to bring the drugs to Thailand.

If convicted they could in theory face the death sentence although Thailand has not executed anyone since 2009.

Their arrest came two days after an Indonesian man was arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport with crystal methamphetamine worth an estimated $500,000 after arriving from India.

AFP
Published with written approval from AFP.

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Terrorizing Foreigner Arrested By Chon Buri Immigration Bureau


The Chon Buri Immigration Bureau arrest a Swiss man who had listed houses that didn't belong to him without permission of the house-owner

 CHONBURI – August 21, 2013 [PDN]; Immigration Bureau officers together with Chon Buri police officers arrested Mr. Peter Limaoher following a complaint from Mrs. Sumalee Manpadung. She had complained that Mr. Peter had listed her property online without her consent.

Mrs. Sumalee had also said that she often had arguments with Mr. Peter, which made her decide to file reports to the Immigration Bureau as well as the DSI.

 An arrest was planned as soon as it was confirmed that he had scammed another foreign man into signing a contract to rent the house he was residing him without Mrs. Sumalee’s permission.

 Mr. Peter was said to have done this crime several times before but in different provinces.

As soon as he gets money transferred from the victim, he’d immediately escape and move to another province.

 Police arrested him in a house he rented, he was reported to be in the process of listing the house online, luckily his laptop was seized first.

 He is now in the process of being charged for several allegations by Immigration Bureau officers.

He is also in the process of getting extradited back to his home country.

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INVESTMENT / FUND SCAM

9 foreigners suspected in fund scam

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) plans the arrest warrants for nine foreign individuals involving with Standard Morgan (Thailand), alleging them of operating an illegal investment fund.

At the press conference today, the DSI revealed the names of the nine individuals with different nationalities - Ronald Hodges, manager of the fund; David Lim; Eugene Yew Jin Wei; Wang Rongbiao; Vic Phua; Ryan NY; Jimmy (unknown family name); Andy (unknown family name); and Leo Lee Chan.

DSI chief Tarit Pengdith said on Wednesday that DSI is acting on the request by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The DSI attempted to freeze some 20 bank accounts which may have been used for the illegal fund mobilization.

Opened by Thai and foreign nationals, many of them were closed before the freeze.

Only about Bt15 million remained in the remaining accounts.

The DSI investigation showed that Standard Morgan (Thailand)’s fund has mobilized about Bt1 billion during July 2012 and August 2013 from about 300 investors.

The fund was established on July 14, 2012 and it was inaugurated at a major hotel in Bangkok on October 23, 2012.

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Two human trafficking suspects arrested in Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Thai authorities have arrested and charged two suspected human traffickers, an Uzbek woman and a Thai man alleged to have been involved in luring another Uzbek woman into prostitution in the Thai capital.

Anti-Human Trafficking Division (AHTD) Police on Thursday arrested an Uzbek woman, and a Thai man identified as Phornchai Pantikote at Soi Nana in downtown Bangkok with an arrest warrant issued by the Criminal Court on suspicion of conspiracy to commit human trafficking.

 The 25-year old victim, alias Jenny, earlier sought help from the Consulate-General of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Bangkok, claiming that the Uzbek suspect invited her to join in a clothing business which export clothes from Thailand to Uzbekistan.

The suspect provided her with an air ticket to Thailand.

 Once in Thailand, the victim was forced into prostitution in the Nana area to pay back the 90,000 baht air ticket.

The Thai male suspect threatened to assault her and plant her with drugs so that she would be arrested by police if she refused to become a sex worker.

The victim said Mr Phornchai claimed connections with senior police officers.

 Mr Phornchai denied that he forced the victim into the sex trade but said he told her to repay the air ticket.

He said he worked as a taxi driver in Soi Nana.

 Meanwhile, Anti-Trafficking commander Pol Maj Gen Chavalit Sawaengphuet said most Uzbek women travel to Thailand to work as sex workers, adding that the two suspects will be questioned further.


mcot

 

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Ex-bank employee held for selling fake money

BANGKOK: -- The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has arrested a former bank employee for allegedly selling fake banknotes of several foreign currencies, including the US dollar.

However, the suspect insisted the notes were real but damaged, which is why he could sell them for three times less.

DSI chief Tarit Pengdith and his deputy Pol Colonel Yannapol Yungyuen told the press yesterday that the department, in conjunction with a US Secret Service team, had arrested Pisit Ritthikulpipatin from Bangkok's Beung Kum district as part of a sting operation.

Officials also seized 1,000 US$100 banknotes in the 67-year-old suspect's possession.

The real value of the banknotes is about Bt3 million, but Pisit allegedly tried to sell them to an undercover official for just Bt800,000.

Officials also found a banknote detection device, as well as some documents about counterfeit banknotes and foreign currency trade at the suspect's home.

Initial investigation found that the suspect used to work at a bank in the foreign currency division.

Pisit claimed the banknotes were real but had been pulled out of |the system because they were damaged.

Yannapol also quoted the suspect as saying that the banknotes were only sold to certain targeted groups.

However, the DSI official said that since orders for allegedly making banknotes were also found at his home, it is suspected that he had done this job for years.

The suspect initially admitted to being a retailer, not a fake banknote maker as accused.

19-09-2013
the nation

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Well-meaning drug dealer in custody

BANGKOK: -- A drug dealer was arrested yesterday after attempting to donate 11 yaba pills at a centre collecting donations for flood victims in Chon Buri's Sattahip district.

The man reportedly urged workers at the centre to sell the drugs and use the proceeds to aid flood-affected people in the Eastern region.

Apparently under the influence of his own wares, former drug convict Jakkrit Mukpradap, 39, was arrested while trying to donate the pills to a booth in front of Wat Thep Prasart yesterday morning.

He confessed to having taken five yaba pills earlier in the day.

A search of his home turned up a home-made gun and some ammunition.

Jakkrit said he got the drugs from a Rayong supplier identified only as Chamlong.

Jakkrit said he had dealt drugs for three years after serving a prison term for his prior offence.

He said he was motivated to aid flood victims after watching a TV news report, so he donated the pills believing staff members could sell them for Bt3,000.

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SCAMS

Immigration Bureau Arrest Thai and Foreign Scams


Police officers of the Immigration Bureau were able to arrest a gang of African males who tricked Thai people several times, in several ways.

BANGKOK- October 16, 2013 [PDN];

At the HQ of the Immigration Bureau, officers held a press conference regarding the arrest of 8 males from Africa and Asia who were arrested on 4 criminal cases.

Amongst the arrested suspects were people from Liberia, Cameroon, South Korea and Thailand.

The 4 criminals included a furniture, black money, marriage and employment scams.

It was announced that the suspects were arrested between the October 5 to 15.

Most arrests took place in Bangkok, as most of the criminals were committing their crimes in Bangkok.

Police will now further question them, they’ll also be appropriately charged.


 

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HIGH SEASON & THAI IMMIGRATION IS MORE ALLOVER

Numerous of Thai Immigration Arrests in Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, as well as allover Thailand.

Immigration arrest Dutch man accused of sexual assault

Thai immigration have arrested a Dutch man who fled from his home country ( Holland) to hide in Thailand because he was accused of sexually assaulting a minor in his home country.

BANGKOK – November 14,2013 [PDN];
The immigration Bureau, Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanu Kerdlarpphol (Commissioner of Immigration Bureau) made a statement about arresting Mr. Pascal Theodorus, aged 40, Dutch nationality, according to the arrest warrant of Liewarden city, Netherlands, after he assaulted a girl aged 12 and became pregnant.

Mr. Pascal escaped into Thailand and lived in a house address 6/87 Royal Palm Villa village, Soi Sridarn 20, Tambon Bangkaew, Amphur Bangphlee, Samutprakarn province so the police went to arrest him.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanu continued to say that in another case the Immigration Bureau officers arrested Mr. Arthem Yuvarof, Russian nationality, that escaped from Russia and was wanted for narcotics.

The officers found out that Mr. Arthem was a D.J. at Pattaya and could arrest him at Soi Siam Country Club, Tambon Nong Preu, Amphur Banglamung, Chonburi province and the officers.

Also Mr. Luri Kushmin, Russian nationality, was also arrested due to an arrest warrant of International Police in connection with drugs.

He was arrested at his house address 87 Choksap villa, Moo 8 Tambon Chalong, Amphur Meuang, Phuket province.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanu revealed that the officers had also arrested Mr. Alireza Saidi, aged 38, Iranian nationality, who used Thailand as a base to smuggle Iranian people to other Countries.

He was arrested at his house, address 11/19 Moo 5, Rattanakorn Home village, Soi Sukhumvit 53, Tambon Nong Prue, Amphur Banglamung, Chonburi province together with 3 other Iranian men that he was trying to smuggle .

The Commissioner of Immigration Bureau also stated that for the 3rd case, the officers had arrested a Mr. Tai Dong Jeng, aged 28, Malaysian nationality, that used a fake credit card to buy 3 of iPhones 5s and 2 Samsung Note3 mobile phones at one department store in the Sukhumvit road area.

Furthermore, the officers ould also arrested Mr. Jung Lungkee, aged 48, Korean nationality, that escaped an arrest warrant in Korea.

He was arrested on the side of Theamruammit road, Ratchadaphisek sub-district, Huay Kwang district, Bangkok.

Finally the officers arrested 11 Nigerian and Guinean people in the allegation of being in the Kingdon of Thailand where their visas had expired.

They were arrested in a restaurant off Onnut road, Suanluang district, Bangkok.

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ATM Skimming Gang

Thai Tourist Police Officer involved with ATM skimming gang sacked



BANGKOK, Nov 20 - Thailand's Tourism Police have sacked an officer arrested for involvement in a transnational ATM skimming gang.

Tourist Police Division Commander Pol Maj Gen Apichai Thi-amart said Pol Sen Sgt Maj Nontapan Saengsuk, 37, a Tourist Police officer, was dismissed from the agency following his arrest.

Pol Sen Sgt Maj Nontapan was caught in Nakhon Ratchasima, together with two Russian men using an ATM 'skimmer' to hack information from their victims' credit cards and making counterfeit credit cards to withdraw cash from ATMs.

Some Bt2.8 million cash and 328 counterfeit credit cards were also seized.

The Thai police officer served as driver who took the Russians to withdraw money from ATMs, for which he received 10 per cent of the cash.

Pol Maj Gen Apichai said a probe committee has been set up to investigate the alleged malfeasance of the officer, and his superiors for negligence in supervising their subordinates.

The probe is intended to discover if more police officers are involved as accomplices.

They will have 30 days to explain their actions to the committee, Gen Apichai said, adding that disciplinary action will be taken against those found guilty.

Sen Sgt Maj Nontapan was a tourist police officer for almost seven years and performed in many cases, he said.

Gen Apichai said the national police chief has instructed him to supervise the tourist police agency more carefully and said that he will convene a meeting of his subordinates on Saturday.

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Flight Ticket Scam

Transsexual arrested in Million Baht Pattaya Flight Ticket Scam



PATTAYA: -- A 32 year old Pattaya Transsexual was arrested at Suvanarbumi Airport in Bangkok on Friday Night and taken straight to Pattaya Police Station to answer charges of fraud in relation to the sale of Flight Tickets online.

On the strength of arrest warrant number 375/2556 dated 28th May 2013, Immigration Officers at the Airport arrested Khun Pet, who intended to board a flight to Seoul, South Korea.

He was taken to Pattaya Police Station where the suspected was handed-over to Detectives who questioned Khun Pet about the allegations of fraud detailed in the warrant.

Khun Pet claimed he worked online from his home in Pattaya, and would place adverts through Google Ads promoting cheap flight tickets.

Thai-based and International customers would transfer money to Khun Pet’s Thai bank account and would never receive confirmation of their bookings which never existed in the first-place.

Many complaints from victims of the alleged scam were made through Pattaya Police Station which promoted the issuance of the arrest warrant in May 2013.

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CREDIT CARD FRAUD

Three Malaysians arrested for credit card fraud



PATHUM THANI, Feb 5 - Three Malaysian nationals were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly being members of a counterfeit credit card ring, according to police.

Pol Maj Gen Smith Mukdasanit, commander of Pathum Thani provincial police, said three men identified as Tee Hock Peng, 50, Tan Cheng Hock, 57, and Lee Jian Tyng, 24, were suspected of being members of an electronic card skimming syndicate.

The police were earlier informed of unusual practices of a group of foreigners who purchased goods with electronic cards and when the machines rejected the payment, they would switch to many other cards until one of them was accepted.

Police coordinated with banks which confirmed that the cards were counterfeit.

The three suspects confessed to the police that they would immediately destroy a card once they could use it to buy goods, while the items they purchased would be later sold, with the money shared among them.

They were charged with possession of fake credit cards as well as for illegally producing, obtaining, and transporting counterfeit credit cards for use in the Kingdom.


mcot

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ATM CARD FRAUD

Bangkok police stop 100 million Baht fake ATM card fraud



09-04-2014

Bangkok: -- Police in the Lumpini district of the city have arrested two Romanian nationals caught in possession of 795 counterfeit ATM cards.

It is believed that the suspects had been under investigation by the police following a spate of money withdrawals using fake ATM cards across inner city Bangkok.

Pol Maj Gen Suebsak Phansura said the men were apprehended after they were seen acting suspiciously in the Kloeng Toey district on Tuesday April 8th.

After an initial search on the roadside, one of the individuals was found to be carrying a haul of ATM cards.

The pair were then escorted to an address on Sukhumvit Soi 11 where a further search was carried out.

Following both searches, a total of 795 ATM cards and a high-tech mobile data skimmer were seized by detectives.

Further investigation, with additional help from Siam Commercial Bank, found that out of the 795 cards, 364 were blank, while 431 were said to contain transactional data, thought to be embedded from bank accounts hacked in Italy.

The bank officials estimated that had the pair been able to successfully use all the cards to withdraw the maximum amount from ATM machines, the possible damage could have totaled at more than 100 million Baht.

After being interviewed by police, the pair said they were hired and paid 500 euros each to withdraw money using the fake cards at various locations throughout Bangkok.

After analyzing CCTV footage, police believe that the two men, and another man who was later arrested at the address on Sukhumvit Soi 11, had already withdrawn around 1 million Baht using the counterfeit cards.