– Police from Provincial Police Region 2 raided a suspected scam operation in Pattaya and arrested three suspects.
– The group allegedly impersonated cybercrime police officers and targeted people who had previously lost money to scammers.
– Victims were reportedly told that police could help recover their stolen funds and were then sent QR codes to scan.
– Investigators say the suspects admitted to previously working for a call centre scam operation in Cambodia for approximately one year before returning to Thailand.
– Police seized computers, mobile phones, SIM cards, notebooks and bank passbooks as they investigate possible victims, financial transactions and links to a wider network.
PATTAYA, Thailand: Pattaya Police have arrested three suspects following a raid on a suspected call centre scam operation in Pattaya, where investigators allege the group impersonated cybercrime officers to target people who had previously fallen victim to online fraud.
Police Major General Kiettisak Srathongoil, commander of the Investigation Division of Provincial Police Region 2, led officers from Investigation Subdivision 1, working alongside Pattaya City Police, in a search of the suspected office.
Three suspects were arrested during the operation, and officers seized a range of communication devices and documents believed to be relevant to the investigation.
The alleged scammers would send victims a QR code and encourage them to scan it.
Investigators are examining the QR codes to establish how they were intended to be used and whether they were connected to unauthorised financial transactions or other offences. Police are also tracing related financial activity.
During questioning, the three suspects reportedly admitted that they had previously worked for a call centre scam operation in Cambodia for approximately one year. They allegedly returned to Thailand and subsequently joined forces to establish an office in Pattaya, using mobile phones to contact and deceive people in different parts of the country.
Police have not yet announced the confirmed number of victims or the total financial losses associated with the alleged operation.
Officers seized the following items during the raid:
– One laptop computer
– Five mobile phones
– Three items comprising SIM cards and related documents
– Three notebooks containing recorded information
– Two bank passbooks
– One backpack
Investigators are examining the seized devices and documents for contact records, usage histories and other electronic evidence that could help establish how the operation worked and identify additional people who may have been involved.
Police are also investigating the movement of money and possible connections to other individuals or criminal networks.
Authorities warned members of the public, particularly people who have previously transferred money to scammers, to be cautious if someone contacts them claiming to be a cybercrime officer or government official offering to recover their lost funds.
Police advised the public not to trust unsolicited recovery offers or scan QR codes provided by unknown callers, especially when asked to take action involving bank accounts or financial transactions.
Anyone receiving such an approach should independently verify the caller’s identity by contacting the relevant government agency through its official channels.
Investigators said they would continue gathering evidence and tracing financial transactions before proceeding with the legal process. Further inquiries will focus on identifying potential victims, determining the full extent of the alleged fraud and establishing whether the suspects were connected to a wider network.