Chiang Mai Teenagers Detained for Recruiting in Cambodian Scam

Picture courtesy of KhaoSod

In a significant crackdown, three teenagers were detained in Chiang Mai for allegedly operating an illicit recruitment office aimed at sending individuals to work in a Cambodian call centre scam. Enticing recruits with promises of high-paying jobs, free accommodation, and easy border crossings, the scheme was exposed by a police task force.

On April 8, Police Lieutenant General Kritthapol Yisakhon, along with senior officials, announced the arrests of 28-year-old Pornnapa, 31-year-old Pornnarong, and 25-year-old Sudarat. The team, comprising officers from the Technology Crime Suppression Centre and the Information Analysis and Special Tools Division, executed the operation seamlessly.

The arrest took place following an investigation prompted by informants alerting authorities to shady recruitment activities in Chiang Mai. Evidence was gathered from a house in the Nong Pa Khrang subdistrict, where the suspects were holding operations.

On April 7, armed with a search warrant, officers swooped in at 10.30 am. They found Pornnarong outside, while Pornnapa and Sudarat were apprehended inside, actively engaged in their recruitment efforts. During questioning, the suspects admitted to deceptive job postings on Facebook, falsely advertising roles as simple admin jobs with lucrative pay.

The operation involved luring potential recruits into discussions on the LINE app, where they were offered natural border crossings into Cambodia under the guise of legitimate employment. The suspects acknowledged using the premises as their recruitment hub and confirmed sending two Thai nationals to Cambodia.

Confiscated items included all-in-one desktop computers, iPhones, iPads, and various electronic devices. Charged with recruiting workers for overseas employment without permission, a violation under Section 30 of the Employment and Job Seeker Protection Act, the suspects now face legal proceedings at the Mae Ping Police Station in Chiang Mai.

This operation highlights the continued vigilance required to combat fraudulent recruitment schemes, safeguarding individuals from potentially dangerous situations and exploitation abroad, reported The Thaiger.