Bangkok police have arrested four foreign nationals after an undercover operation targeting an alleged counterfeit scam, described by police as “black money” which claimed ordinary paper could be turned into genuine US dollar notes.

The arrests followed a demonstration arranged with officers posing as wealthy visitors at a luxury-car event in Bangkok. Police say the suspects sought 150,000 baht to release what they claimed was US$6 million, in cash.

Undercover officers targeted at luxury-car show

The operation, named "Deception within Deception", took place at about 5pm on 1 August. It followed an investigation by the Metropolitan Police Bureau's drug suppression centre into a transnational narcotics network, according to Pol Maj Gen Theeradet Thamsuthee, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau.

On 26 July, officers following a suspected key figure in the Nana area attended a luxury-car gathering in Bangkok while posing as prospective buyers. Police said the suspects offered to arrange funds for the officers to buy a high-end vehicle.

Picture courtesy of Thaitabloid

They allegedly said their US$6 million cash supply was held by customs and asked the supposed buyers to provide 150,000 baht for an under-the-table payment. In return, they promised a 40 per cent share of their system of converting blank paper into genuine US dollar bills.

Pol Maj Gen Theeradet led the 1 August operation alongside Pol Col Worapoj Rungkranjang, Pol Lt Col Manoch Thongkaew, Pol Lt Col Thanyaprisit Chulapipob and Pol Capt Lertwarit Worapreecha. The wider operation was under the command of national police chief Pol Gen Kittirat Phanphet, deputy chief Pol Gen Samran Nuanma, Metropolitan Police commissioner Pol Lt Gen Siam Boonsom and deputy commissioner Pol Maj Gen Phallop Aemla.

Paper, chemicals and alleged fake-note evidence seized

Police arrested Remy, 35, a Liberian national, on an allegation of participation in a criminal organisation. David, 40, also Liberian, was charged with the same offence and with staying in Thailand without permission.

Two Cameroonian women were subsequently arrested at a Hua Mak property: Nagua, 35, for being in Thailand without permission, and Kaesia, 21, for remaining after her permission to stay had expired.

Officers seized 11 notes resembling US$100 bills, three chemically coated counterfeit notes, 60,000 blank banknote-sized sheets, four bottles of unidentified liquid, which is being tested, various conversion equipment and three mobile phones. Police said the phones contained videos of alleged counterfeit-dollar production and counterfeit scam methods.

At Remy's Lasalle Road room, officers found the 60,000 prepared sheets, which police said could have been intended for fake notes. Searches of David's Hua Mak room found alleged fake notes and other evidence.

Police said the demonstration used pre-treated paper and a liquid presented as a special chemical. They allege it was simply vitamin C dissolved in water, used to remove a coating and reveal a genuine note hidden underneath.

Remy denied the allegation, saying he did not know about the case. David confessed, police said, admitting the demonstration was intended to persuade victims to hand over assets before contact was cut off. He also said he had paid a printing shop at about noon on 1 August to cut blank paper to banknote size.

The suspects and exhibits were sent to Makkasan and Hua Mak police stations for legal proceedings.

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3 August 2026

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If you can turn blank paper into US$6 million, why are you borrowing 150,000 baht? Asking for a friend. 😆

2 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

described by police as “black money'

Perhaps closer to the truth than intended.

1 hour ago, Nemises said:

If you can turn blank paper into US$6 million, why are you borrowing 150,000 baht? Asking for a friend. 😆

There's more to the scheme than that. It's an elaborate ruse in which a "fee" is made to seem reasonable.

Edited August 3Aug 3 by Jonathan Swift

Is one of them a prince?

Edited August 3Aug 3 by Jonathan Swift

Not thinking that Thailand is a good place to run a counterfeit US currency hub. US bills have become very high tech. Not something you can print in your hotel. At the same time, Thailand is cracking down hard on money crimes. North Korea has pretty much cornered the counterfeit US currency market. But nobody ever said con artists/scammers are smart.

Love the DIY video tutorial

They can be prosecuted in thailand, then extradited to the US for federal prosecution. Meanwhile, held indefinitely in Thai jail while all the paperwork processes. Lovely!

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

converting blank paper into genuine US dollar bills.

Years ago in SiemReap on a night market sometimes I received Dollar notes which felt like not genuine. But even in restaurants at daytime they were going from hand to hand.

The real notes are feeling different though, but nobody cared.

You guys think I should return the skid of a4 that I bought last week.

24 minutes ago, Jonathan Swift said:

Is one of them a prince?

If so, it might explain why I have not received my money from him yet!

Sounds like the old Nigerian prince scam.

"At Remy's Lasalle Road room, officers found the 60,000 prepared sheets, which police said could have been intended for fake notes. Remy denied the allegation, saying he did not know about the case."

Of course he wasn't aware of the 60,000 prepared sheets, a complete misunderstanding. Just keeping the sheets for a friend.

2 hours ago, Jonathan Swift said:

Is one of them a prince?

Ha! My mind went there also ...

It's amazing how long this "Black Money" scam has been around. I wonder if somebody is selling franchises in Liberia.

These cons know that all they have to do is set-off someone's greed trigger and all common sense goes out the window.

6 hours ago, Nemises said:

If you can turn blank paper into US$6 million, why are you borrowing 150,000 baht? Asking for a friend. 😆

Because it's a scam!

7 hours ago, Nemises said:

If you can turn blank paper into US$6 million, why are you borrowing 150,000 baht? Asking for a friend. 😆

The scam is so obviously a scam it makes me almost laugh out loud

This goes back - as far as I'm aware - to Penang in the mid-1990s where sub-Saharan Africans were engaged in several types of scams. This "black money" jig was one of them.

On 8/3/2026 at 3:15 AM, Jonathan Swift said:

Not thinking that Thailand is a good place to run a counterfeit US currency hub. US bills have become very high tech. Not something you can print in your hotel. At the same time, Thailand is cracking down hard on money crimes. North Korea has pretty much cornered the counterfeit US currency market. But nobody ever said con artists/scammers are smart.

Peru has pretty much cornered the counterfeit US currency market, producing an estimated 50% to 60% of all fake U.S. dollar bills distributed globally.

Production and Quality

• High-grade equipment: Counterfeiter networks in Lima use advanced offset printing presses and meticulous hand-finishing techniques.

• Undetectable features: Bills often bypass standard airport scanners and casual point-of-sale inspections.

• Massive volume: Operations pump out millions of dollars in counterfeit $100 bills weekly.

This "black money" scam has been around for decades........I'm surprised they are still trying to pull that off.

As far as counterfeit $100 notes, they can't copy the watermarks so the Peruvians must be churning out old notes. Avoid those.