Australian Couple Arrested for Scamming Chinese Nationals in Digital Currency Scheme

[webfact]

 

In a joint operation, the Royal Thai Police and the Australian Federal Police successfully apprehended an Australian couple involved in a digital currency scam targeting Chinese nationals.

 

The couple, identified as Mrs. Hinson, 28, and Mr. Galletly, 47, had been evading arrest since May 30th, but were finally captured on June 2nd, reported Thai Rath.

 

The arrest came after a report was filed by Mr. Gao, a 35-year-old Chinese national, on May 29th. Mr. Gao informed the Thai police that he had been deceived by the couple, who had offered to sell him digital currency through the BINANCE platform.

 

The fraudulent transaction was arranged through the messaging app Telegram, with the couple agreeing to sell the digital currency for 2.5 million baht (approximately US $79,000).

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

The meeting point was set at the Kasikornbank branch in Central Ladprao, scheduled for May 29th at 6:00 PM.

On the day of the planned exchange, Mr. Gao went to withdraw the agreed-upon amount of 2.5 million baht from the bank.

 

He then met a foreign man who claimed to be the seller's representative. After a brief conversation, Mr. Gao handed over the money, which the representative placed in a bag and left on a nearby chair.

 

However, as they were waiting for the digital currency transfer, the bag suddenly disappeared. When questioned about the missing bag, the foreign man claimed to have no knowledge of its whereabouts and fled the scene. This prompted Mr. Gao to report the incident to the police, suspecting it was a premeditated plan.

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

Following the report, the Thai police, in collaboration with the Australian Federal Police, investigated the crime scene and reviewed CCTV footage to identify potential escape routes.

 

It was discovered that the person who took the bag was a foreign woman, who had taken advantage of a momentary distraction on the part of the victim.

 

Further investigation revealed that both the male representative and the female culprit were part of the same group. It was determined that they had scheduled their encounters at a currency exchange shop in the Nana area before planning to depart together from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Phuket.

 

Coordination efforts between the Phuket Provincial Police and the Australian Federal Police led to the successful apprehension of both individuals.

 

Picture: Thai Rath

 

The Australian couple now faces charges related to theft under Thai Penal Code Sections 1687/2566 and 1688/2566. The investigation into the digital currency scam is ongoing, with authorities working to determine the extent of the couple's fraudulent activities and identify any additional victims.

 

This joint operation highlights the commitment of Thai and Australian law enforcement agencies to combating international financial crimes and protecting individuals from falling victim to such scams.

 

The authorities urge the public to exercise caution and conduct thorough due diligence when engaging in digital currency transactions or any other form of financial exchange.

 

Top Picture: Thai Rath

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2023-06-03

 

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[save the frogs]

what is wrong with people?

never hand over briefcases with large stacks of money to anyone EVER!

[Chicksaw]

Lordie, this gives me pause. I am supposed to meet a Nigerian prince tomorrow who wants to give me $10 mil for safekeeping but first he needs cash 1mil baht for his upkeep here while his cousin brings the dollars over. Shoot, now I am thinking this could be a scam.

[ezzra]

2 hours ago, Chicksaw said:

Lordie, this gives me pause. I am supposed to meet a Nigerian prince tomorrow who wants to give me $10 mil for safekeeping but first he needs cash 1mil baht for his upkeep here while his cousin brings the dollars over. Shoot, now I am thinking this could be a scam.

Be carful na, it could be a scam.????

[steven100]

2 hours ago, Chicksaw said:

Lordie, this gives me pause. I am supposed to meet a Nigerian prince tomorrow who wants to give me $10 mil for safekeeping but first he needs cash 1mil baht for his upkeep here while his cousin brings the dollars over. Shoot, now I am thinking this could be a scam.

you don't know that for sure ....   he could be legit,   get the 10 million,   you'll be so happy.

[steven100]

crickey   !   fair suck of the sav blue '  these galah's were gunna have a goanna ... the sheila could be from tim buck too for all we know  !  fair dinkum digger  '

[2baht]

8 minutes ago, steven100 said:

crickey   !   fair suck of the sav blue '  these galah's were gunna have a goanna ... the sheila could be from tim buck too for all we know  !  fair dinkum digger  '

Streuth mate, flamin' bloody drongo's!

[bignok]

You buy digital currency online not in person. How dumb.

[bignok]

2 hours ago, save the frogs said:

what is wrong with people?

never hand over briefcases with large stacks of money to anyone EVER!

So medium stacks ok?

[Artisi]

2 hours ago, Chicksaw said:

Lordie, this gives me pause. I am supposed to meet a Nigerian prince tomorrow who wants to give me $10 mil for safekeeping but first he needs cash 1mil baht for his upkeep here while his cousin brings the dollars over. Shoot, now I am thinking this could be a scam.

No no no, it's a above board, I'm his cousin and ready to leave very soon with the money, so please don't miss tomorrow's meeting. 

[Tidal wave]

Mr Gao I have a golden opportunity for you I've been waiting to find you all my life.   

[Enzian]

It takes two to tango. Aren't a great many scams successful because of the greed of the victim? Combined with a certain ignorance? 

Though even in the US it's possible to have cases of fraud and corruption in otherwise reliable institutions (like a title insurance company, but rare).

But these continuing scam cases here in LOS seem to be by far largely the former.

[bignok]

9 minutes ago, Enzian said:

It takes two to tango. Aren't a great many scams successful because of the greed of the victim? Combined with a certain ignorance? 

Though even in the US it's possible to have cases of fraud and corruption in otherwise reliable institutions (like a title insurance company, but rare).

But these continuing scam cases here in LOS seem to be by far largely the former.

I'm amazed the meeting point was a bank with lots of cameras. Dumb thieves.

[webfact]

Australian Couple Arrested in Phuket For Allegedly Stealing 2.5 Million Baht from Chinese Man in Bangkok
By Goongnang Suksawat

 

 

Phuket – A wanted Australian couple has been arrested in Phuket after they allegedly stole 2.5 million baht from a Chinese man in Bangkok.

On May 29th, Mr. GAO JIANJIA, 35, Chinese national, filed a report to the Phaholyothin Police. He told police he posted online that he wanted to buy digital money via BINANCE. A suspect contacted him via a Telegram application and agreed to buy for 2.5 million baht. They made an appointment to meet at a bank in Ladprao on May 29th. Mr. JIANJIA then took out 2.5 million baht in cash from his bank account.

 

The victim he met with a male foreigner who said he was a representative to get money from Mr. JIANJIA. which had been confirmed in the online chat. The male foreigner got the bag of money from Mr. JIANJIA before putting it on a chair near to him. While Mr. JIANJIA was waiting for the digital money to be transferred into his account the bag of money disappeared. The male foreigner said he had no idea where it went before he fled.

 

Full story: https://thephuketexpress.com/2023/06/03/australian-couple-arrested-in-phuket-for-allegedly-stealing-2-5-million-baht-from-chinese-man-in-bangkok/

 

-- © Copyright The Phuket Express 2023-06-05

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

[Andrew65]

5 hours ago, steven100 said:

crickey   !   fair suck of the sav blue '  these galah's were gunna have a goanna ... the sheila could be from tim buck too for all we know  !  fair dinkum digger  '

Translation please!????

[cardinalblue]

And these stupid people also have Driver licenses?

 

Did the couple asked for unmarked bills?

[brianthainess]

4 hours ago, Artisi said:

No no no, it's a above board, I'm his cousin and ready to leave very soon with the money, so please don't miss tomorrow's meeting. 

I'll give you 2m just tell me where to meet cobber.

[kingstonkid]

7 hours ago, save the frogs said:

what is wrong with people?

never hand over briefcases with large stacks of money to anyone EVER!

I may be wrong but am willing to bet that a lot of business is done this way in china

 

[brianthainess]

Now who would have thought a bank would have CCTV to catch thieves, what a pair of dumbwits, with a kangaroo loose in the top paddock. 

[renaissanc]

I won't touch digital currencies. There seems to be too much instability and/or scamming going on.

[renaissanc]

I wonder how couples contact each other when jailed in Thailand. For sure, they won't enjoy the experience.

[josephbloggs]

20 minutes ago, kingstonkid said:

I may be wrong but am willing to bet that a lot of business is done this way in china

 

You're wrong.

[1FinickyOne]

5 hours ago, bignok said:

So medium stacks ok?

small only

[wombat]

33 minutes ago, Andrew65 said:

Translation please!????

Darwin Awards at work

[shackleton]

What ever happened to the park bench when handing over money no CCTv

Around ever better do it in the dark ????

[ignore it]

So a Chinaman has 2 1/2 million bhat in Thailand to buy the digital stuff?

He gets conned by the old bag drop in Bangkok on 29 May and 3 days later on 2 June the raskells get busted in Phuket 850km distant by the RTP and Australian Federal Police.

Does this make sense to anybody?

[kwaussie]

What happened to the 10 cops and finger pointing

[tandor]

8 hours ago, Chicksaw said:

Lordie, this gives me pause. I am supposed to meet a Nigerian prince tomorrow who wants to give me $10 mil for safekeeping but first he needs cash 1mil baht for his upkeep here while his cousin brings the dollars over. Shoot, now I am thinking this could be a scam.

..as soon as i read 'prince' i went onto red alert

[tandor]

1 minute ago, kwaussie said:

What happened to the 10 cops and finger pointing

finger painting is more relevant here

[tandor]

8 hours ago, Chicksaw said:

Lordie, this gives me pause. I am supposed to meet a Nigerian prince tomorrow who wants to give me $10 mil for safekeeping but first he needs cash 1mil baht for his upkeep here while his cousin brings the dollars over. Shoot, now I am thinking this could be a scam.

..fancy a Chinaman getting skun by an Aussie..must be a first