Biometrics arrests at Suvarnabhumi: Couple on Fake US visas and Thai female "Romance Scammer" nabbed

 

Image: INN

 

Thai immigration announced the arrest of three people at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport. 

 

The first were a couple named only as Mr and Mrs A and B who had paid 50,000 baht for fake US visas.

 

They were stopped outbound and the US embassy soon confirmed they had never issued the visas. 

 

In a separate case an inbound Thai female passenger on Etihad EY406 on Sunday was arrested.

 

She was named in a Thai court warrant and an Interpol Red Notice for criminal conspiracy connected to an international crime operation. 

 

INN said she was part of a Romance Scam gang - people who defraud Thai lonely hearts posing as foreigners for marriage in order to defraud. 

 

All the arrests were further successes for Thailand's 2 billion baht biometrics system, notes Thaivisa. 

 

Source: INN

 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2020-09-30

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

24 minutes ago, webfact said:

US embassy soon confirmed they had never issued the visas

 

All the arrests were further successes for Thailand's 2 billion baht biometrics system, notes Thaivisa. 

It seems it's nothing to do with 'biometrics', but checking passport data with other agencies.

 

There must be some instances of using 'biometrics' to check fingerprint, iris scanning, etc, to apprehend holders of false passports, but that does appear to be a minority.

I suppose it's the age old saying that if you lie about something for long enough people will believe it.

Having wasted spent 2 billion Baht they're trying desperately to justify it.

24 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

It seems it's nothing to do with 'biometrics', but checking passport data with other agencies.

For U.S. Visas the chosen biometric identifier method is a digital photo and electronic fingerprints. All fingers of a visa applicant are electronically scanned in a quick, inkless process during the consular officer's interview with the applicant.

They have given they biometric data if they have valid visa. That data can check also. But don't know if Thailand immigration can use that data to check is visa valid or not!

Edited September 30, 20205 yr by 2 is 1

5 hours ago, webfact said:

She was named in a Thai court warrant and an Interpol Red Notice for criminal conspiracy connected to an international crime operation. 

but none for red bully

I really don't see why Thai Immigration should care if people are departing with fake visas for the destination country. The destination country will just send them back, maybe after a period of imprisonment. Of course the airline that carried them will be stuck for the return fare. Were they flying on THAI? American government agencies would not try to protect an American airline, but none of our airlines are "national champions."

7 hours ago, webfact said:

She was named in a Thai court warrant and an Interpol Red Notice for criminal conspiracy connected to an international crime operation.

So a Red notice works for some people?

6 hours ago, bluesofa said:

It seems it's nothing to do with 'biometrics', but checking passport data with other agencies.

 

Good try at some Thai bashing, but I'm sure you must have read

7 hours ago, webfact said:

They were stopped outbound and the US embassy soon confirmed they had never issued the visas. 

That clearly indicates that biometrics showed the visas were fake, so they were stopped at the immigration booth, and the US embassy was then called to confirm their findings.

 

I hope you don't want to claim that Thai immigration is linked to all embassies in Thailand, or that they call them all before letting someone depart

9 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

So a Red notice works for some people?

Only those with less than 10 or 11 figure bank accounts

11 hours ago, 2 is 1 said:

For U.S. Visas the chosen biometric identifier method is a digital photo and electronic fingerprints. All fingers of a visa applicant are electronically scanned in a quick, inkless process during the consular officer's interview with the applicant.

They have given they biometric data if they have valid visa. That data can check also. But don't know if Thailand immigration can use that data to check is visa valid or not!

That biometric information is not shared with the Thai Government. It's great that Thai Immigration noticed that the US visas were fake, but biometrics had nothing to do with that. Similarly, the other case appears to have been filed with the subject's name and biographic information; no need for biometrics there either.

23 hours ago, hotchilli said:

On 9/30/2020 at 9:16 AM, webfact said:

She was named in a Thai court warrant and an Interpol Red Notice for criminal conspiracy connected to an international crime operation.

So a Red notice works for some people?

The Red Notice was irrelevant for her as she was named and wanted under a Thai warrant and she was entering Thailand.  She would have been arrested regardless of a Red Notice.

Edited October 1, 20205 yr by Cod Face

2 billion baht and nabbed 3 hardened criminals.

 

I know I'll sleep better tonight.....