Big Joke busts large Pattaya call center operation run by Japanese gang

[rooster59]

Big Joke busts large Pattaya call center operation run by Japanese gang

 

Image: Pattaya Online News

 

Fifteen Japanese men were arrested after immigration chief Lt-Gen Surachate Hakparn and a large contingent of police raided a house in Pattaya early this morning. 

 

The call center gang were conning Japanese people in Japan and were said to have ripped off 500 victims to the tune of 25 million baht. 

 

Armed with a search warrant the immigration chief and his team went to house number 78/219. 

 

The house was rented to a man called Tomoki Chimura  for 65,000 baht a month from a Thai woman called Wena Suphawarangkun. 

 

 

Fifteen Japanese men aged between 24 and 55 were arrested. Taken into evidence were 52 phones, 19 computer notebooks and routers. 

 

Lt-Gen Surachate said that the gang were posing as debt collectors to defraud people in Japan who are customers of a well known firm. 

 

They sent emails claiming to have warrants and then after follow up calls were made the victims transferred money via credit cards. 

 

Losses amounted to 25 million baht and there were 500 victims, he said. 

 

The Japanese had entered Thailand on temporary stay P30 (ผ. 30) visas said Pattaya Online News.

 

Source: Pattaya Online News

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2019-03-30

 

 

[petermik]

Well done Big Joke..any chance you will take action against the taxi mafia and illegal karaoke bars while your,e here in town ????

[NCC1701A]

make them work on laying rails for the new high speed train.

 

next case.

[sammieuk1]

Mr stone face BJ'S right hand man is back ready for the interrogation maybe by sword looking at the Japs position???? 

[ezzra]

The reasons why such operations are flourishing in Thailand it's because the Thai government doesn't punish the culprits or the staff, couple of days detention and a small fine and off you go back home, the police sees this as victimless crimes, at least no Thai people affected, but as a photo opp it's looks good, very good...

[brokenbone]

whats a call center anyway ?

[PETERTHEEATER]

5 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

make them work on laying rails for the new high speed train.

 

next case.

Make the lay across the rails for the new high speed train?

[Moti24]

If he's not too busy, maybe he can get every immigration office singing from the same hymn sheet; immigration have a website, detailing the criteria for applying for every type if visa, but, it seems the message is getting lost somewhere in the ethernet.

[BestB]

It would appear they were arrested for working without proper visa and work permit, not the actual crime of fraud, as no fraud took place in Thailand but in Japan. All that will happen is deported if that fit working illegally 

[ChipButty]

6 hours ago, brokenbone said:

whats a call center anyway ?

Please keep up

[ChrisY1]

This guys a gem.....just a little odd he doesn't go after the boiler room guys with similar enthusiasm!

[brokenbone]

43 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

Please keep up

i googled it and could not find anything illegal about it,

i also wonder why anyone would bother to do it in thailand

[NoshowJones]

Why do they call him "Big" Joke? We all know he is a joke, but what height is he really? Probably around 5ft 2ins or something.

[Traubert]

19 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

Why do they call him "Big" Joke? We all know he is a joke, but what height is he really? Probably around 5ft 2ins or something.

His pseudonym is nothing to do with his height or humour.

 

I understand he's named after his favourite childhood breakfast or somesuch.

[hotchilli]

1 hour ago, BestB said:

It would appear they were arrested for working without proper visa and work permit, not the actual crime of fraud, as no fraud took place in Thailand but in Japan. All that will happen is deported if that fit working illegally 

And what happens to the property owner?

Sweet bugger-all

[balo]

That's expensive rent for a house, 65000 baht . No wonder the Thai owner kept her mouth shut. 

[ianezy0]

10 hours ago, brokenbone said:

whats a call center anyway ?

It’s where they make calls in the middle of a large room.

[lemonjelly]

2 hours ago, Traubert said:

His pseudonym is nothing to do with his height or humour.

 

I understand he's named after his favourite childhood breakfast or somesuch.

Lucky it wasn’t Sugar Puffs

[geoffbezoz]

1 minute ago, lemonjelly said:

Lucky it wasn’t Sugar Puffs

Could be worse, Brownies

https://www.cerealously.net/review-malt-o-meal-double-chocolate-brownie-crunch-cereal/

[bartender100]

Are the Bangkok Boiler rooms still open?

[moe666]

5 hours ago, hotchilli said:

And what happens to the property owner?

Sweet bugger-all

Why would anything happen she rented it out and collects the rent and leaves the maintence up to the renter. She probably never visited the place after renting it out

[DaRoadrunner]

14 hours ago, petermik said:

Well done Big Joke..any chance you will take action against the taxi mafia and illegal karaoke bars while your,e here in town ????

Not much chance as that would make Thais look bad.

[balo]

8 hours ago, bartender100 said:

Are the Bangkok Boiler rooms still open?

Most of them closed many years ago. 

[Johnnyngai]

On 3/30/2019 at 11:52 AM, brokenbone said:

whats a call center anyway ?

When a tourist calls an escort service's phone number,  

a call center answers the call.

[jacko45k]

On 3/30/2019 at 7:07 PM, balo said:

That's expensive rent for a house, 65000 baht . No wonder the Thai owner kept her mouth shut. 

And for submitting 15 TM 30s .