Crime Thai Police Dismantle Scam Ring Targeting Australians, Arrest 13 Foreign Nationals

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Thai Rath

 

Thai police have taken down a notorious scam operation targeting Australians, arresting 13 foreign nationals in the Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan.

 

These individuals, including Australian, British, Canadian, and South African nationals, allegedly ran a call centre scam that swindled approximately 32 million baht from unsuspecting Australians over the past year.

 

This crackdown marks a significant stride in combating a long-standing operation that has plagued 14,000 Australians, costing them billions over two decades.

 

Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej, commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, announced the arrests at a press briefing.

 

The apprehended individuals were allegedly operating from a luxury house, where 58 pieces of critical evidence, such as computers and mobile phones, were seized. The scam's masterminds, a Briton and an Australian, had previously fled Indonesia for Thailand, seeking to avoid capture.

 

Picture courtesy of Thai Rath

 

The group's modus operandi involved posing as legitimate financial firms and cold-calling Australian residents, coaxing them into investing in non-existent bonds with promises of high returns.

 

Operatives in Thailand adhered to Sydney business hours, commencing their deceptive activities at 5am local time. Detective Superintendent Kristie Cressy of the Australian Federal Police highlighted the extensive damage caused by the scam over two decades.

 

This bust underscores the international collaboration between Thai authorities and the Australian Federal Police, aimed at dismantling extensive networks of fraud that exploit victims with sophisticated financial pitches.

 

The arrest represents a pivotal development in ongoing efforts to combat transnational financial crimes, potentially deterring future fraudulent activities targeting Australians.

 

The investigation continues as authorities delve deeper into the network's operations and seek to track down any accomplices involved in the scam.

 

Picture courtesy of Thai Rath

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-06-18

 

 

[sammieuk1]

Looks like the work of the 3,2.1 gang🤔

 

[Purdey]

Would be nice to know how the scam worked so everyone could avoid it.

[Lacessit]

5 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Would be nice to know how the scam worked so everyone could avoid it.

Cold-calling Australians with offers of non-existent bonds. It's in the OP, if you look.

 

Not hard to avoid, just hang up.

[Taboo2]

Enjoy the fish head soup you scumbags.

[norsurin]

Hope they all rot in thai prison and also rot in hell.

[hotchilli]

8 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Cold-calling Australians with offers of non-existent bonds. It's in the OP, if you look.

 

Not hard to avoid, just hang up.

That's it, if you don't want to be scammed don't do business over the phone with strangers

[VBF]

17 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

25 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Cold-calling Australians with offers of non-existent bonds. It's in the OP, if you look.

 

Not hard to avoid, just hang up.

That's it, if you don't want to be scammed don't do business over the phone with strangers

Spot on.

NEVER get involved with any cold-call offers, especially so-called "investments". They're almost certain to be some sort of scam, just as cold-callers to your home are.

This isn't just a Thailand problem, it's worldwide.

[StandardIssue]

44 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Would be nice to know how the scam worked so everyone could avoid it.

 

It was explained in the article. Just read it.

[Beat666]

Good ol`Boiler rooms. I remember those pitches, rebuttals, etc. hanging on the partitions.

Did the Australians not learn from the past, around 2001? Sukomo Group? FCC?

I don`t get it, that they fall again too these obvious scammers.🤔

 

Dear Australians, smarten up:

https://download.asic.gov.au/media/1339370/International_Cold_Calling_report.pdf 

https://www.ato.gov.au/about-ato/tax-avoidance/the-fight-against-tax-crime/our-focus/financial-crime/boiler-room-schemes 

[StandardIssue]

Ah, one in the endless parade of scammer groups operating out of Pattaya, Bangkok and the like. 

 

Unfortunately this bust is probably just a small dent in the problem.

 

There are some real nasty Indian scammers doing business out of Pattaya targeting USA. Refund scammers, tech support scammers, crypto currency scammers. It's terrible

[PETERTHEEATER]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The scam's masterminds, a Briton and an Australian, had previously fled Indonesia for Thailand, seeking to avoid capture.

Tipped off by..........?

[Beat666]

50 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Would be nice to know how the scam worked so everyone could avoid it.

https://www.afp.gov.au/news-centre/media-release/busted-police-shut-down-bangkok-based-investment-scam-centre-targeting

[spidermike007]

I don't know how anybody parts with cash, without doing a significant amount of research on the company or the individual who's offering them a great deal. There is so much information out there that there's really no reason to ever fall for a scam like this, unless you're just being reckless with your money.

 

This world is chock full of vampires who just simply want to suck the blood of society, and take other people's money and will do absolutely everything in their power to avoid real and honest work. 

 

 

[StandardIssue]

9 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

I don't know how anybody parts with cash, without doing a significant amount of research on the company or the individual who's offering them a great deal. There is so much information out there that there's really no reason to ever fall for a scam like this, unless you're just being reckless with your money.

 

This world is chock full of vampires who just simply want to suck the blood of society, and take other people's money and will do absolutely everything in their power to avoid real and honest work. 

 

 

 

It's big business, there are loads of people getting scammed everyday, many of them elderly. 

Do a Youtube search on Kitboga. He's a scam baiter and he's very good at it. He effectively dupes scammers and makes hilarious videos of the scam baits and dupes.

It shines a big light on how the scams work.

Many of them are refund scams, tech support scams and the like. 

 

 

 

 

[roo860]

Capital punishment for all of them.

[kiwikeith]

33 minutes ago, VBF said:

Spot on.

NEVER get involved with any cold-call offers, especially so-called "investments". They're almost certain to be some sort of scam, just as cold-callers to your home are.

This isn't just a Thailand problem, it's worldwide.

I got calls everyday in NZ from scammers, you tell them they are low life's and hang up then they ring back again I just use to say go and scam your mother and hang up

[2long]

1 hour ago, Purdey said:

Would be nice to know how the scam worked so everyone could avoid it.

It works because greedy stupid people hand over money to greedy sneaky people who are clever enough to create the scam, but stupid enough to eventually get caught.

A fool and his money are soon parted.

Idiots are being born every day, so this (sort of thing) will never end.

[Kwausie]

Take all there money and flash house, then kick them out never to return!

[baansgr]

1 hour ago, Purdey said:

Would be nice to know how the scam worked so everyone could avoid it.

We have an IPO at 30% discount, set to explode in value...you get the gist 

[Regyai]

The lunacy of any inside track to instant wealth (from rental returns on condos, to surefire racewinning tips) that somehow needs your money when the guy offering would be better employed -  if real - getting on with it without sharing it with anyone

[VBF]

25 minutes ago, kiwikeith said:

I got calls everyday in NZ from scammers, you tell them they are low life's and hang up then they ring back again I just use to say go and scam your mother and hang up

I get them in UK but always mark them as SPAM and block the number. It helps somewhat.

[riverhigh]

Absolute garbage scumbags. They take from society and in return offer nothing.  Huge fines and long- time jail sentences are in order.  The last phone call I received from one of  these scumbags was "Don't you want to own 10%??"  implying that I was stupid. I said "no, I prefer to earn 3%" and hung up.  

[transam]

I hope they do time here...................🤗

 

Keep Aussie hours, hmm, I wonder if any spent their free time 'was' on here..............

 

See if anyone disappears............

 

 

[Lacessit]

8 minutes ago, transam said:

I hope they do time here...................🤗

 

Keep Aussie hours, hmm, I wonder if any spent their free time 'was' on here..............

 

See if anyone disappears............

 

 

Gamma Globulin seems to have gone missing.......

[transam]

1 minute ago, Lacessit said:

Gamma Globulin seems to have gone missing.......

I could list a few that I wish would go missing.......😂

[natway09]

The aussies have been at the business for 26 years that I know of here in Thailand.

Hope they all get their just deserts

 

[Reddavy]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

Picture courtesy of Thai Rath

 

Thai police have taken down a notorious scam operation targeting Australians, arresting 13 foreign nationals in the Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan.

 

These individuals, including Australian, British, Canadian, and South African nationals, allegedly ran a call centre scam that swindled approximately 32 million baht from unsuspecting Australians over the past year.

 

This crackdown marks a significant stride in combating a long-standing operation that has plagued 14,000 Australians, costing them billions over two decades.

 

Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej, commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau, announced the arrests at a press briefing.

 

The apprehended individuals were allegedly operating from a luxury house, where 58 pieces of critical evidence, such as computers and mobile phones, were seized. The scam's masterminds, a Briton and an Australian, had previously fled Indonesia for Thailand, seeking to avoid capture.

 

Picture courtesy of Thai Rath

 

The group's modus operandi involved posing as legitimate financial firms and cold-calling Australian residents, coaxing them into investing in non-existent bonds with promises of high returns.

 

Operatives in Thailand adhered to Sydney business hours, commencing their deceptive activities at 5am local time. Detective Superintendent Kristie Cressy of the Australian Federal Police highlighted the extensive damage caused by the scam over two decades.

 

This bust underscores the international collaboration between Thai authorities and the Australian Federal Police, aimed at dismantling extensive networks of fraud that exploit victims with sophisticated financial pitches.

 

The arrest represents a pivotal development in ongoing efforts to combat transnational financial crimes, potentially deterring future fraudulent activities targeting Australians.

 

The investigation continues as authorities delve deeper into the network's operations and seek to track down any accomplices involved in the scam.

 

Picture courtesy of Thai Rath

 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-06-18

 

 

Fools and money easily parted 🤷🏼

[Liverpool Lou]

2 hours ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

Tipped off by..........?

"The JPC3’s Operation Firestorm and the RTP investigation began after Australian authorities received credible information that Australians were recruited by the syndicate to participate in the scam operation. The AFP alerted RTP through its International Network as the agencies began sharing intelligence on the suspects involved, including their location".

[Liverpool Lou]

1 hour ago, Kwausie said:

Take all there money and flash house, then kick them out never to return!

Those arrested, i.e. not the boss(es), are probably skint so there's not likely to be any money to take and the house will be rented so that can't be taken, either.