Crime Bus Driver Steals from Romanian Tourist’s Credit Card

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

A tour bus driver has been arrested after stealing a Romanian tourist’s credit card and using it to make a series of unauthorised ATM withdrawals totalling 280,000 baht, police have confirmed.

 

The victim, identified only as Ms Cristina, had been travelling from Koh Phangan to Phuket when her card went missing. After realising the card had been used fraudulently, she filed a complaint at Saku Police Station in Phuket. The case was quickly taken up by immigration and provincial police across Surat Thani and Phuket.

 

According to Police Colonel Naruwat Phuttharo, Commander of Surat Thani Immigration Police, the suspect was tracked down through CCTV footage, which showed him withdrawing money 14 times from various ATMs across Surat Thani city using a white vehicle.

 

The suspect, Mr Channarong, 34, was later arrested at his home on Talad Mai Road in Mueang District, Surat Thani. A court-approved search of the property uncovered 280,000 baht in cash, as well as the clothes he was seen wearing in the CCTV footage.

 

During questioning, Mr Channarong confessed to the crime. He admitted to finding the credit card on his tour bus, along with a note containing the PIN code. He said he tested the card and upon confirming it worked, made repeated cash withdrawals over several days.

 

He now faces multiple charges, including theft, unauthorised possession and use of another person’s electronic card and misappropriation of personal documents in a way likely to cause harm.

 

The suspect has been transferred to Saku Police Station in Phuket for further legal proceedings. Authorities confirmed that the stolen funds would be returned to the tourist following the completion of the investigation.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khoasod 2025-05-22.

 

 

 

[tomazbodner]

6 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Mr Channarong confessed to the crime. He admitted to finding the credit card on his tour bus, along with a note containing the PIN code.

Clever woman...

[hotchilli]

On 5/22/2025 at 4:11 AM, Georgealbert said:

A tour bus driver has been arrested after stealing a Romanian tourist’s credit card and using it to make a series of unauthorised ATM withdrawals totalling 280,000 baht, police have confirmed.

Dumb as they come.

[Caldera]

On 5/22/2025 at 4:11 AM, Georgealbert said:

He admitted to finding the credit card on his tour bus, along with a note containing the PIN code.

 

Wow, that is textbook gross negligence, what a stupid thing to do.

[Watawattana]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Dumb as they come.

Yeah, looks like the Immigration guy is laughing at him.

[ujayujay]

Why so complicated? Why not just write the PIN code on the credit card, Ms Clever🤪🤫🫣

[Geoff914]

I always assumed every body, when they receive a card, changes the PIN to something they can remember.

[stevenl]

2 hours ago, Geoff914 said:

I always assumed every body, when they receive a card, changes the PIN to something they can remember.

For me a change of PIN can only be done in my home country. 

[Geoff914]

1 hour ago, stevenl said:

For me a change of PIN can only be done in my home country. 

I assume the Romanian woman got her credit card in her home country. New cards have to be activated before you can use them, either at an ATM or on line. I don't think to can change the PIN online but ATMs are every where. Just change the PIN. I assume she will be liable for the 280,000 baht. £6700 ouch.

[BangkokReady]

9 hours ago, Watawattana said:

Yeah, looks like the Immigration guy is laughing at him.

 

"Haha.  You really rinsed that stupid farang!  Sorry, but I have to bust you because she made a complaint and this is high profile now."

[stevenl]

17 hours ago, Geoff914 said:

I always assumed every body, when they receive a card, changes the PIN to something they can remember.

As i said, not always possible.

 

13 hours ago, Geoff914 said:

I assume the Romanian woman got her credit card in her home country. New cards have to be activated before you can use them, either at an ATM or on line. I don't think to can change the PIN online but ATMs are every where. Just change the PIN. I assume she will be liable for the 280,000 baht. £6700 ouch.

Probably, but maybe not.

[scorecard]

On 5/23/2025 at 9:46 AM, Caldera said:

 

Wow, that is textbook gross negligence, what a stupid thing to do.

I recall an office (another company) near mine, suddenly several police visiting. 

 

Turned out the 3 or 4 office staff had all regularly given the new office girl their ATM numbers and PIN numbers with an instruction to go to the bank branch they all used downstairs and  withdraw cash 500 to 15,000Baht. Several times all of the staff asked the new girl to go to the ATM, all saying 'get my card from my handbag, you have my PIN number already.

 

Then suddenly the new office girl didn't come to work, one older office staff went to her handbag to get her ATM card. It was missing. The other 2 or 4 office staff checked, all ATM cards missing. The boss went to the bank branch downstairs, spoke to a supervisor who revealed the account balance of the company boss was reduced by 60,000Baht (30,000 daily limit X 2). She called the other 3 staff to quickly come downstairs to the bank, bank balance for all of them was zero, 8,000Baht and 5,000Baht disappeared. 

 

My HR manager had a conversation with one of the police, turned out the business next door didn't have any details at all for the new girl: no full name, no address, no phone no. etc. 

 

Why?, Because they had a policy of updating all their personnel and other records at the end of the month, not the day new staff started or before they started.

 

Police couldn't get any details for the new girl. Case closed. 

[Magictoad]

14 hours ago, Geoff914 said:

I assume the Romanian woman got her credit card in her home country. New cards have to be activated before you can use them, either at an ATM or on line. I don't think to can change the PIN online but ATMs are every where. Just change the PIN. I assume she will be liable for the 280,000 baht. £6700 ouch.

It's in his house. I presumed it would be returned 

[kiwikeith]

On 5/23/2025 at 2:46 PM, Caldera said:

 

Wow, that is textbook gross negligence, what a stupid thing to do.

Who is stupid the Driver or the person that left a note with the pin ???

1 hour ago, Magictoad said:

It's in his house. I presumed it would be returned 

 

1 hour ago, Magictoad said:

It's in his house. I presumed it would be returned 

 

[Caldera]

3 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

Who is stupid the Driver or the person that left a note with the pin ???

 

If you have to ask... 555

 

Since I mentioned gross negligence, I think it's obvious who's the one I was talking about!

[kiwikeith]

7 hours ago, Caldera said:

 

If you have to ask... 555

 

Since I mentioned gross negligence, I think it's obvious who's the one I was talking about!

Yes 

[kiwikeith]

9 hours ago, Magictoad said:

It's in his house. I presumed it would be returned 

That's what the article says 

It will be returned