Phuket Raid Captures Four Foreign Hackers Behind 560M Baht Scam

[webfact]

Photo via Thai News Agency

 

In a decisive operation, Thai authorities arrested four foreign nationals in Phuket, accused of orchestrating a major malware scam that defrauded over 1,000 victims. This sophisticated cybercrime netted losses exceeding US$16 million, equivalent to approximately 560 million Thai baht.

 

The hackers, wanted in Switzerland, fled to Thailand to evade international arrest warrants. Working closely with Swiss officials, the Royal Thai Police (RTP) launched Operation PHOBOS, a collaborative effort spearheaded by the Immigration Bureau and Provincial Police Region 8, to track and apprehend the suspects.

 

The operation culminated in raids across four Phuket locations, including the Mono Palai Private Pool Villa and Supalai Palm Spring. The hackers were caught red-handed, though local authorities have not yet disclosed their identities. It is assumed they hold Swiss nationality due to their association with Swiss arrest warrants.

 

The modus operandi of these cybercriminals involved deploying ransomware to infect and encrypt victims' data. They then demanded a cryptocurrency ransom in exchange for decrypting the data, threatening to leak sensitive personal information if their demands went unmet. This use of digital currency posed additional challenges to those trying to trace and catch them.

Photo via Facebook/ THAI PRESS

 

Globally, the group's malware scam entrapped over a thousand unsuspecting individuals, resulting in combined losses of more than US$16 million (560 million baht). Despite being under scrutiny in Switzerland, the group managed to escape to Thailand, continuing their illicit activities until their capture.

 

A comprehensive search of the suspects’ residences uncovered an array of evidence, including mobile phones, laptops, and various digital wallets linked to the cryptocurrency transactions used in their demands.

 

The legal repercussions for these cybercriminals are severe. Switzerland seeks to extradite them, where they face charges of conspiracy to commit offences against the United States and wire fraud. Their prosecution will likely serve as a cautionary tale against digital crime, demonstrating the rigorous pursuit by international authorities.

 

This significant breakthrough in cyber law enforcement comes on the heels of another high-profile extradition from Thailand. Just weeks earlier, a Chinese national was deported to face charges for defrauding victims via a fraudulent loan application, amounting to 112 million yuan (approximately 520 million baht).

 

Together, these arrests underscore the commitment of Thai authorities to collaborate internationally in the fight against cybercrime, ensuring perpetrators are brought to justice irrespective of geographic boundaries, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-02-11

 

 

[newbee2022]

Outta with them. Ban them from entering again

[Redacce]

Deport this scum

[brfsa2]

The challenge here is the police managing to get their laptops any crypto wallet unlocked.

When it comes to this, the dirty police going to get a back over their head and make them unlock their BTC wallets, only then they get deported back to cheeseland. or like the Silkroad guy, that apparently "suicide" on jail after his BTC wallets got drained.

 

Most criminals love Crypto, they keep their crypto wallet locked until they are released.

 

[supersomchai]

Notice how these foreign scam scum

are always hanging out in pool villas

…..BiB take note!

[Lalo27]

If I had 16 millions $$ in my pocket,  I will certainly keep quiet and change identity...!!

[mikeymike100]

Did it say the nationality of these perps, it mentioned they were wanted in Switzerland, are they Swiss?

[Cabradelmar]

Lock them up in any of Thailand's notoriously nasty prisons. Deportation is too easy.

[Ironmike]

Scum like this should be locked up for the rest of their lives in a Thai prison,, let's find the worse one they have. 

[hotchilli]

21 minutes ago, Redacce said:

Deport this scum

Switzerland will welcome them back for justice.

[Johno57]

Hang them...

[Frankie baby]

To bad they wont be tried & sentenced here. Looks like they'll be extradited to Switzerland with five star cells. 

[Reddavy]

35 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Outta with them. Ban them from entering again

The only place they will be entering is a stay at the local prison for a very long time if the Yanks get their hands on them. 

[Taboo2]

Please, please, please send them to IDC instead of jails.  Let them sit around for 6 months or more.

 

Evil scum!

[Katatonica]

22 minutes ago, brfsa2 said:

The challenge here is the police managing to get their laptops any crypto wallet unlocked.

When it comes to this, the dirty police going to get a back over their head and make them unlock their BTC wallets, only then they get deported back to cheeseland. or like the Silkroad guy, that apparently "suicide" on jail after his BTC wallets got drained.

 

Most criminals love Crypto, they keep their crypto wallet locked until they are released.

 

Just keep them in until it's unlocked.

 

[Redacce]

27 minutes ago, brfsa2 said:

The challenge here is the police managing to get their laptops any crypto wallet unlocked.

When it comes to this, the dirty police going to get a back over their head and make them unlock their BTC wallets, only then they get deported back to cheeseland. or like the Silkroad guy, that apparently "suicide" on jail after his BTC wallets got drained.

 

Most criminals love Crypto, they keep their crypto wallet locked until they are released.

 

I they are extradited to the US by the time they get out they will be old. Let them keep the money for the nursing home  😃

[ChipButty]

21 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

Did it say the nationality of these perps, it mentioned they were wanted in Switzerland, are they Swiss?

In another news outlet it said Russians, 

[Mark989]

If they have any sense they will start praising Trump.

DTS? Nope. Trump just pardoned Ross Ulbricht one of the world's largest illegal drug dealers with US$200M in sales worldwide including solicitations of murderers. Yes, plural. 

Ross Ulbricht, aka “Dread Pirate Roberts,” was sentenced in US federal court to life in prison in connection with his operation and ownership of Silk Road, a website designed to enable its users to buy and sell illegal drugs and other unlawful goods and services including contract murders anonymously and beyond the reach of law enforcement between January 2011 and October 2013.

Ulbricht was found guilty of seven charges he faced. 

“Make no mistake: Ulbricht was a drug dealer and criminal profiteer who exploited people’s addictions and contributed to the deaths of at least six young people,” said US District Prosecutor Bharara. “Ulbricht went from hiding his cybercrime identity to becoming the face of cybercrime and as today’s sentence proves, no one is above the law.” Except Donald Trump.

[Oliver Holzerfilled]

Break one finger at a time until they give up the passwords.

[go4it]

23 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

Did it say the nationality of these perps, it mentioned they were wanted in Switzerland, are they Swiss?

According to Swiss news the 4 arrested persons are said to be Russians.

[jvs]

14 minutes ago, Johno57 said:

Hang them...

Are you feeling ok?

[Hakuna Matata]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

the group managed to escape to Thailand, continuing their illicit activities

 

Thailand has long become a safe heaven for fugitives and criminals from all over the world. 

Stricter visa policy is required, especially for nationals of several countries including but not limited to Switzerland, Poland, Lithuania, Romania, Nigeria, Ghana, United States, Ukraine, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Korea, Moldova and some other countries.

 

Visa Free scheme should be abolished for those countries. A proper entry visa should be obtained in the country of citizenship prior to entering Thailand, including criminal record check and possibly, a mental health check up.

 

 

[Dave0206]

Well it mentioned another similar case where the suspect was sent back to China I don't think he will be doing anything naughty again he may get life sentence or 1/4 ounce of lead

[NicoBKK]

39 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

Did it say the nationality of these perps, it mentioned they were wanted in Switzerland, are they Swiss?

I doubt, usually Eastern Eu, Ukrains or Russians

[thaichiro]

What are Swiss prisons like? If they’re anything like Sweden, better to have them serve here at the “Hilton”.

[findlay13]

They'll probably wish they'd been caught in Switzerland after a good taste of Thai gaol before being deported

[PeachCH]

47 minutes ago, mikeymike100 said:

Did it say the nationality of these perps, it mentioned they were wanted in Switzerland, are they Swiss?

Yes

[ronster]

Tip of the iceberg I'm sure.

[NativeBob]

If you have mobile, laptop and crypto wallet get ready for cyber crime police visit. 

normal (innocent) folks don't get that gear.

#ROFL

[mran66]

Looks like Russians