‘Poipet Police Captain’ Arrested in Call Centre Scam

Picture courtesy of Daily News.

Technology crime officers have arrested a Thai man nicknamed “Poipet Police Captain” for his alleged role in a call centre scam that defrauded victims by posing as police officers.

On 15 August, Pol Col Santi Kornkasem, ordered a team led by senior officers to apprehend Mr Boon-um, 24, at the Indo-China Market in Sa Kaeo province. He was wanted under a Takua Pa Provincial Court warrant dated 23 June 2025, accused of aiding theft by impersonating an officer, and supporting computer-related fraud.

The arrest forms part of a national crackdown on technology-related crime. Investigators tracked the suspect to the busy border market before detaining him without incident.

According to police, the scam gang contacted victims claiming to be law enforcement officers. They tricked targets into installing remote control software on their mobile phones, allowing criminals to transfer money from victims’ credit cards and bank accounts into their own.

During questioning, Mr Boon-um denied all charges, insisting he had been deceived into working for the gang. He alleged that a Chinese employer scanned his face and used artificial intelligence to digitally alter it, making it appear he was a police officer when contacting victims.

The suspect has been handed over to the Technology Crime Suppression Division for further investigation to identify and prosecute other members of the network.

  Adapted by Asean Now from Daily News 2025-08-16