Russians Arrested for Visa-related Document Forgery

[snoop1130]

 

BANGKOK, March 22 (TNA) – Police arrested two Russian nationals in Pattaya for allegedly forging documents for visa extension.

 

Pol Gen Visanu Prasarttong-Osoth, inspector-general of the Royal Thai Police Office, said police arrested Irina Prokacheva, 59, and Alexei Luptov, 63, at a house in Bang Lamung district.

 

There police found Thai banknotes, copies of passports and documents of Russian banks with the names of many Russians.

 

Full Story: https://tna.mcot.net/english-news/line-today-english-news-660104

 

-- © Copyright TNA 2021-03-22

 

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[Surelynot]

Where is the pointy...that's them photograph.......disappointed!

[GeorgeCross]

in other news back handers for retirement extensions still actively encouraged..

 

[champers]

Sounds like the comrades are agents. Considering that many Russians do not speak Thai or English, agents would provide a very useful service. I think there is more to this "story" than meets the eye.

[EricTh]

9 minutes ago, champers said:

Sounds like the comrades are agents. Considering that many Russians do not speak Thai or English, agents would provide a very useful service. I think there is more to this "story" than meets the eye.

Russians do speak English. In fact, there is a Russian Youtuber living in Thailand and speaks English.

[smedly]

The suspects forged documents for their customers to present at the Russian embassy in Thailand to seek certificates that they could use to have their visas extended. They charged a customer 2,000 baht.

Most customers did not meet visa extension criteria. For example, Pol Gen Visanu said, they did not have at least 800,000 baht in their bank accounts or their monthly salary did not reach 65,000 baht.

 

 

 

there are many living here of various nationalities who do the same but with sanctioned agents, sounds like these pair forging bank statements to get embassy letters for customers.

[RichardColeman]

8 hours ago, GeorgeCross said:

in other news back handers for retirement extensions still actively encouraged..

 

I like to think of agents as just a police check tax. 

 

Most people using a THAI agent will probably be wisked off to the immigration office, photo taken and collect passport a while later. During that time the immigration dept can quite easily see if that person is wanted, has a fake passport or throws up any red flags. And they could be arrested. They are in fact just checking the person out - and you are paying to be checked out - expensively.

 

I doubt anyone that uses a THAI agent wants to draw attention to themselves.

 

It's the ones that do not get visa extensions - or use agents for them - that are the real issues for Thailand in my opinion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[bristolgeoff]

that is not a surprise really,one of the many scams that go on

[tigerfeet]

10 hours ago, champers said:

Sounds like the comrades are agents. Considering that many Russians do not speak Thai or English, agents would provide a very useful service. I think there is more to this "story" than meets the eye.

They are treading on toes that will not be trod on.

[LennyW]

Oops, treading on the toes of the myriad of Thai agents that do this daily, naughty naughty!

[inThailand]

Is this different than the scores of guys using agents to fudge their visa documents? 

[tonray]

Somebody forgot to make the monthly tribute

[bobonzo]

maybe they can ask him to fix the 90 day website

[webfact]

UPDATE:

 

Visa extension fraudsters: Further details emerge as Thai police go after Russian retirees who used service

 

Picture: INN news

 

The Thai police are going after Russians who used a fraudulent service provided by two compatriots to show they had money in the bank for visa extensions when they had none.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1210953-visa-extension-fraudsters-further-details-emerge-as-thai-police-go-after-russian-retirees-who-used-service/

[AdamTheFarang]

5 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

I like to think of agents as just a police check tax. 

 

Most people using a THAI agent will probably be wisked off to the immigration office, photo taken and collect passport a while later. During that time the immigration dept can quite easily see if that person is wanted, has a fake passport or throws up any red flags. And they could be arrested. They are in fact just checking the person out - and you are paying to be checked out - expensively.

 

I doubt anyone that uses a THAI agent wants to draw attention to themselves.

 

It's the ones that do not get visa extensions - or use agents for them - that are the real issues for Thailand in my opinion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So your logic is the people that go themself to immigration are the problem! Then if they were wanted they are arrested in person and be in any location having given their passport to an agent. Hhmm not sure what do the others think about this cunning observation?

[Dionigi]

How strange I found thai banknotes in my wallet, copies of passports, bank papers and lots of names in my address book.

[SwampyThai]

5 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

I like to think of agents as just a police check tax. 

 

Most people using a THAI agent will probably be wisked off to the immigration office, photo taken and collect passport a while later. During that time the immigration dept can quite easily see if that person is wanted, has a fake passport or throws up any red flags. And they could be arrested. They are in fact just checking the person out - and you are paying to be checked out - expensively.

 

I doubt anyone that uses a THAI agent wants to draw attention to themselves.

 

It's the ones that do not get visa extensions - or use agents for them - that are the real issues for Thailand in my opinion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is not as expensive as having 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account earning f all interest, my 'friend' prefers to keep the money in 'his' investment/pension accounts and receive an adequate return on 'his' investments and just pay a small fee once a year.

As for being wanted, fake passport etc, that will show up regardless of which method people choose to renew their visa.

[digger70]

14 hours ago, GeorgeCross said:

in other news back handers for retirement extensions still actively encouraged..

 

Corruption will Never end. It's been  Bred in for Centuries . ????

[Neeranam]

2 hours ago, inThailand said:

Is this different than the scores of guys using agents to fudge their visa documents? 

It's thousands. My friend gets his bank details forged by an English agent for under 20k. 

Some agents can do this openly, I wonder why? 

[Neeranam]

6 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

Most people using a THAI agent will probably be wisked off to the immigration office, photo taken and collect passport a while later. During that time the immigration dept can quite easily see if that person is wanted, has a fake passport or throws up any red flags. And they could be arrested. They are in fact just checking the person out - and you are paying to be checked out - expensively.

Not at all. People use agents to escape immigration checking them out. 

95% of people using agents are cheating the system, they don't have enough cash in the bank, they pretend they are studying Thai, etc. Its a disgrace and sadly most foreigners think it's OK for police to accept bribes. 

[Olmate]

3 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

It's thousands. My friend gets his bank details forged by an English agent for under 20k. 

Some agents can do this openly, I wonder why? 

The account has req funds on day of applying.its not forgery.

[Jonathan Swift]

13 hours ago, champers said:

Sounds like the comrades are agents. Considering that many Russians do not speak Thai or English, agents would provide a very useful service. I think there is more to this "story" than meets the eye.

You are no doubt correct sir. There's always more to the story, due to limited police disclosure, and to the inherent lack of motivation of "reporters" who are likely little more than high school seniors writing for a school paper. If you're going to cheat, it pays to use experts with the established chain of brown envelopes. I suspect the Russians left someone out of that chain, or pi$$ed the wrong person off. Or they were rank amateurs painting targets on their own backs. No sympathy from me, the Russians are doing nothing for Thailand except taking up space and being generally unfriendly to everyone. 

[jerolamo]

55 minutes ago, SwampyThai said:

It is not as expensive as having 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account earning f all interest, my 'friend' prefers to keep the money in 'his' investment/pension accounts and receive an adequate return on 'his' investments and just pay a small fee once a year.

As for being wanted, fake passport etc, that will show up regardless of which method people choose to renew their visa.

Not expensive ?

Fact is that teacher there win around 22 000 THB.

Labor worker win the half.

Best salary employed win up to 50 000 THB.

So this is not sum to 800 000 THB for all the year of work.

So definitely, it is expensive in this country and treat foreigner as a high level class selected.

Now look at European position, even if salaries vary a lot if you work in Poland or in England, considering the change between EUR and THB, it is still a huge money.

I'm lucky that for you it is nothing, but look at the fact that for the most of the people around the world, it is a lot of money.

Consider you as the average social class that is disappearing. And therefore, by modesty, with regard to all others, take into account facts and not just your own position and the one of your friends (The others, you do not know them, because they can not follow yours. Rich people can not support life of poor one... and poor one can not paid for life the same as rich one paid it for).

 

Ok, now, consider that, without really understand what you said, you are building a wrong idea of what is a "farang" in Thailand. The farang is not on your own image of the rich high level best middle class in the world on the last area after the second war with full employ and huge money for cheap price.... it is no more the situation and do not let them thinking we are in your privileged position. As a middle class (in this century) European worker, i can have a life and support my Thai family, not as cheap as poor Thai can do (but who know ?) but not as expensive life as you have (and i and my family are very happy too, we don't need more).

For us, these huge money asked can be a problem (and is a problem when it happened again) and is not something necessary. We do not understand this selction by the money, even if twe really appreciate and understand that a country (and i) should consider that a foreigner should be able to take care himself and provide a proof of that. 800 000  THB is not just a proof, it is 2 times up more than a proof for the year...

I really hope that you can understand and consider to support the clear and measured idea.

[robblok]

6 hours ago, RichardColeman said:

I like to think of agents as just a police check tax. 

 

Most people using a THAI agent will probably be wisked off to the immigration office, photo taken and collect passport a while later. During that time the immigration dept can quite easily see if that person is wanted, has a fake passport or throws up any red flags. And they could be arrested. They are in fact just checking the person out - and you are paying to be checked out - expensively.

 

I doubt anyone that uses a THAI agent wants to draw attention to themselves.

 

It's the ones that do not get visa extensions - or use agents for them - that are the real issues for Thailand in my opinion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actually i know quite a few people from  Singapore many of whom use agents. They are all here legally, some on work permits ect. I personally would have used an agent too because sometimes it makes things go smoother less stress. They check everything and if the immigration officer is unreasonable they will make sure its all ok. With elite visa for instance you get free agent (from elite visa) assistance. I am in and out in half an hour only looking at an immigration agent for like 5 minutes. The agent from elite does everything else for me. 

 

If i did not have elite I would not mind paying for such a stress less procedure. 

[jerolamo]

40 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

You are no doubt correct sir. There's always more to the story, due to limited police disclosure, and to the inherent lack of motivation of "reporters" who are likely little more than high school seniors writing for a school paper. If you're going to cheat, it pays to use experts with the established chain of brown envelopes. I suspect the Russians left someone out of that chain, or pi$$ed the wrong person off. Or they were rank amateurs painting targets on their own backs. No sympathy from me, the Russians are doing nothing for Thailand except taking up space and being generally unfriendly to everyone. 

Maybe... but without proof, this stay a special imagination. An imagination looking at Thailand to be so poor that there is huge corruption.

It may be the case some time ago, but i want to thinking (yes, even me with pink glasses or you with black glasses, as long as we have no proof, it is just sun glasses, isn't it a choice to just choose for the color of them ?) that in Thailand, there is many huge car on the expensive road (expensive because of the weather and rude seasons with a moving easy ground floor able to break a lot of infrastructures), and an economy who is going up comparatively to other nations (COVID fear season is an exception in this world... but they force me to wear my black glasses with that story time).

So... i think it should be difficult to corrupt police for a visa (not enough money back i think, but also, i want to think that they are pretty clean).

 

But what are the fact they exposed there ?

There is a story about uncovered conditions by customers that the agents illegally over-cover.  For 2000 THB.... how much cost the risk ?

It is not logic that there is corruption for this so little money back at high risk (even for agents or officials).

But, we don't really know.... i just want to show that there is also some other solution as sometimes, information is true, and i'm thinking it can be a situation.

Generaly, for situation were it is wrong facts, it goes long time to go out... and huge people are in trouble, they don't want to cover bad information feeling for the country (and i perfectly understand it as long as clean people don't want to loose face for other one not so clean... You know, just a moron in the team that does not clean stuff and who, of course, finished by getting a hand in the bag (it always finishes), so that people (often sweating frustration to be too often abused anywhere, from the commercial to the politician, in their everyday life and without being able to do anything, will seeing crooks everywhere, and that happens to me too, we normally very suspicious in This world with some crazy and some crooks exist and have more and more power and money) believe that the whole team is filled with dishonest morons (excluding it is not the case).
It's a shame when the others are automatically suspected and condemned for a single moron.

 

However, I think it's always better to do our tasks (especially when it goes with civil liability) ourselves. The only one i can understand to delegate it, is the diplomatic one only (because he has no time when he represent people or country, he is in charge).

So out of this exception, paid to delegate is something i have difficulty to understand (not the idea to practice this, but the reason why it is accepted), because we are talking about our own civil liability (in person), and we should be there for that as long as it is possible. I think that, to be able to paid for that is like...  a kind of unjustified power to run away our task or delegate them. (i know, some of you will jump and become haters to read this, but calm down, it is just an opinion, i do not pretend to provide the true, and even if you pretend to detain it, we don't, just an opinion who can be defended by logic, and i think, under the wood, it is the subject there).

Edited March 23, 2021 by jerolamo

[LennyW]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

UPDATE:

 

Visa extension fraudsters: Further details emerge as Thai police go after Russian retirees who used service

 

Picture: INN news

 

The Thai police are going after Russians who used a fraudulent service provided by two compatriots to show they had money in the bank for visa extensions when they had none.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1210953-visa-extension-fraudsters-further-details-emerge-as-thai-police-go-after-russian-retirees-who-used-service/

So what they going to do......round up and kick out many of the very people that are contributing to the Pattaya and Jomtien economy in these lean times and drive the nails further into the coffin?????

[Mywayboy]

14 hours ago, EricTh said:

Russians do speak English. In fact, there is a Russian Youtuber living in Thailand and speaks English.

They only speak English when they have to 

[biggles45]

Selective enforcement.! I know 4 guys who do not meet the criteria for a visa extension. They use THAI agents and for some strange reason they have no problems. 

[ThaiFelix]

Police arrested two Russian nationals in Pattaya for allegedly forging documents for visa extension.

 

Very risky business trying to enter an occupation reserved for Thais only.

[EricTh]

17 minutes ago, biggles45 said:

Selective enforcement.! I know 4 guys who do not meet the criteria for a visa extension. They use THAI agents and for some strange reason they have no problems. 

 

How did the Thai agents help them? Transfer money to their bank accounts or fake bank documents?