Picture courtesy of Provincial Police Region 8 via Bangkok Post

 

A 54-year-old German national has been arrested on Koh Phangan for allegedly orchestrating a fraudulent investment scheme that targeted investors in Australia.

 

In a coordinated operation, officers from Provincial Police Region 8, the Immigration Bureau, and Surat Thani, along with the Australian Federal Police, conducted searches at four locations on the island on Tuesday. David Guy Hamburger was taken into custody while riding a motorcycle near his residence at Choco Villa, as reported by Pol Lt Gen Surapong Thanomjit.

 

An arrest warrant issued by the Pathum Thani Provincial Court on charges of public fraud and disseminating false data into a computer system led to Mr Hamburger's apprehension. Police seized assets valued at over 19 million Thai Baht, suspected to have been acquired through fraudulent means.

 

Among the assets seized were a cryptocurrency account with a balance of 8.04 million Baht, four bank accounts totalling 6.23 million Baht, cash amounting to 495,000 Baht, a land title deed worth 1.5 million Baht, four vehicles valued at 2.27 million Baht, 13 luxury watches worth 605,000 Baht, and two laptops.

 

Analysis of the laptops revealed scripted dialogues used to lure Australian investors into fake stock investments, along with detailed records of victims. Authorities also searched three additional locations linked to companies allegedly set up by Mr Hamburger, including a law office and Montana Realty real estate office on Koh Phangan, and a residence on Koh Samui registered to his Thai wife.

 

Several individuals believed to be part of Mr Hamburger's network were summoned for questioning. They are suspected of assisting in the establishment of four nominee companies: Chesapeake Ross Co, Montana Realty Co, Laguna Cliff Co, and Gollum Co.

 

Pol Lt Gen Surapong stated that the operation followed information from Australian authorities about an online investment scam affecting many Australians. After investigations, Mr Hamburger was identified as the primary suspect, leading to the searches and his arrest.

 

Residing on Koh Phangan for over five years on a retirement visa, Mr Hamburger operated several businesses, including a villa rental company, a construction firm, and a restaurant. He has been handed over to Muang police station in Pathum Thani for legal proceedings on fraud charges, with additional charges expected under the Foreign Business Act, according to Pol Lt Gen Surapong.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-07-09

 

 

Well embedded but tracked down and caught.

 

Here's hoping they get the rest of the dodgy buggers pulling stunts like this.

Let's see if he is smart enough to have an escape plan in place after his inevatable release on bail. Should have established overseas accounts, IDs, Passports, etc. knowing this day would come sooner or later

Hamburger with the lot.

Brought to justice.

If he would have sent his photo to me I definitely would run away immediately.

Ugly, disgusting tattoo hooligan.

Not somebody to do business.

David Guy Hamburger, a typical german name. 🤣😂

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

and Gollum Co

my prreciousss!

15 hours ago, NanLaew said:

Well embedded but tracked down and caught.

 

Here's hoping they get the rest of the dodgy buggers pulling stunts like this.

Agreed, these scammers are the lowest scum on earth

Scammers like Hamburger (what a name!) get caught because they think they can keep getting away with their scam. But their long sentence in jail will inevitably come. Perhaps they feel that they can buy their way out of a long sentence, or they don't worry because they know they will be able to live on a huge amount of hidden wealth when they get released.

The Hamburgler 😄

Burger to go !!

His luxury watches couldn't have been very luxury if only came to 600k for 13 of them .

Well done to the police. Now let's hope some of this loot finds its way back to the real owners before it goes missing.

Low scumbags like this should be hanged.Their ruin lifes to their victims and don't care if families with kids losing their homes etc etc 

1 hour ago, Frankie baby said:

Well done to the police. Now let's hope some of this loot finds its way back to the real owners before it goes missing.

No chance I’m afraid 😦 

Several Thai Nationals are also being investigated for being nominees to establish businesses.  If you go to the Thai Examiner website there is a much more complete article about this  

4 hours ago, ronster said:

Burger to go !!

His luxury watches couldn't have been very luxury if only came to 600k for 13 of them .

 

Casio Gold?

9 hours ago, BerndD said:

David Guy Hamburger, a typical german name. 🤣😂

 

<<Several individuals believed to be part of Mr Hamburger's network were summoned for questioning. They are suspected of assisting in the establishment of four nominee companies: Chesapeake Ross Co, Montana Realty Co, Laguna Cliff Co, and Gollum Co.>>

 

Not sure but it sounds like a American.

Flaunting that sort of wealth under the noses of authorities here for 5yrs until Oz fed police obviously spoon fed them the details 🤔

On 7/9/2025 at 4:30 PM, NanLaew said:

Well embedded but tracked down and caught.

 

Here's hoping they get the rest of the dodgy buggers pulling stunts like this.

They only take from "greedy buggers".

Some people might argue that his "victims" deserved it. People who fall for scams like this are often dodgy, greedy people/ buggers.

4 minutes ago, UbonEagle said:

Flaunting that sort of wealth under the noses of authorities here for 5yrs until Oz fed police obviously spoon fed them the details 🤔

In such a small place as KPA it's difficult to believe that the BIB weren't already on to him.

1 hour ago, GoodieAfterDark said:

 

<<Several individuals believed to be part of Mr Hamburger's network were summoned for questioning. They are suspected of assisting in the establishment of four nominee companies: Chesapeake Ross Co, Montana Realty Co, Laguna Cliff Co, and Gollum Co.>>

 

Not sure but it sounds like a American.

Aha! It worked. Give things an American name and nobody thinks it may be a German mastermind.

1 hour ago, Magictoad said:

In such a small place as KPA it's difficult to believe that the BIB weren't already on to him.

 

The fraud was carried out online and on Australian victims. Why would the RTP have any primary interest? Just another retiree, pitching his tent on their turf. As long as his immigration status was sound, there wasno need to suspect him of anything. Four vehicles totaling a little over 2 million so no red-plated 7 series Beemer or Lambo. Just some Toyotas.

11 hours ago, BerndD said:

David Guy Hamburger, a typical german name. 🤣😂

 

Hamburger is a well known Jewish name in Germany, see also the famous rabbi Jacob Hamburger

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Hamburger

12 hours ago, sikishrory said:

Hamburger with the lot.

Brought to justice.

Who Invented the Hamburger?

Louis Lassen is often credited with serving one of the earliest versions of the hamburger at his restaurant, Louis’ Lunch, in New Haven, Connecticut. The story goes that in 1900, a customer came into his restaurant and was in a hurry. Lassen quickly needed to come up with a portable meal, so he placed a ground beef patty between two slices of toast. This simple yet innovative creation allowed the customer to enjoy a meaty sandwich on the go.

Louis Lassen’s decision to use ground beef and serve it between slices of toast instead of traditional bread or buns is what makes his contribution unique. While this event is often considered one of the early examples of the hamburger in the United States, it’s essential to remember that the hamburger’s origin is a complex and evolving culinary history, and there were other variations of ground meat sandwiches in existence before Lassen’s creation.

Nevertheless, Louis Lassen’s role in popularizing this particular style of hamburger is well-documented, and his restaurant, Louis’ Lunch, still serves hamburgers in the same style today.

On 7/10/2025 at 8:14 PM, Cameroni said:

 

Hamburger is a well known Jewish name in Germany, see also the famous rabbi Jacob Hamburger

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacob_Hamburger

"David Guy" is not even 1% german!       

And I know: Many jewish people got their family names after the area where they come from, like the well known "Oppenheimer", coming from Oppenheim.