A well known Pattaya businessman has become the victim of an ATM fraud investigation after an amount totalling close to 500,000 baht was stolen from his bank account.

Pattaya, the 13th of January 2010 [PDN]: At approximately 11:00am of Wednesday, police Colonel Akkharadet Pimonsri (Crime Suppression Division Superintendent) received a report from Mr. Kriengrit Phanitchasri [74] from Nongprue, Pattaya. Mr Phanitchasri informed police that he had been fraudulently robbed of close to half a million baht by and ATM scam on the 11th of January. Mr. Phanitchasri is a prominent property developer in the Pattaya area, who counts Mr. Somchai Khunpluem (Chon-Buri Administrator) and the Vice President of Thailand as a friend.

Mr. Phanitchasri explained to Pattaya police that, on Monday night he had received a call from a lady who explained that an amount of 58,000 baht had been spent on his credit card at the Paragon Department Store, but that it had not been approved. Denying spending that amount of money at the specified location he informed the lady that he uses his daughters Kasikorn Bank account and not a Bangkok Bank card to purchase items. At this time the lady explained that there may have been a misunderstanding and that she would require the details of the Kasikorn account to confirm it. Mr. Phanitchasri gave out his details to the women and was told that someone had created a credit card in his name and had spent some money on it. The operator subsequently informed Mr. Phanitchasri that he would have to contact the Bank of Thailand, Bangkok Bank and proceed to an ATM immediately in order to clear-up to the matter.

Believing the woman’s story Mr. Phanitchasri went directly to the ATM in front of the Pattaya Highway office, Nongprue. After following a series of instructions for over 5 minutes, the operator confirmed that the required procedure had been completed and that she was going to inform the Bank of Thailand and the Bangkok Bank of the misunderstanding. After checking his account balance Mr. Phanitchasri realised that he had been robbed of 418,058 baht and was a victim of an ATM fraud scheme, he then contacted Pattaya police immediately.

After contacting the Kasikorn Bank, Suthisarn Bank and the Bangkok Bank it was discovered that the money had been sent to an account registered to Mr. Hiran Phakeewut at the Carrefour Shopping Center in Ratchada Road, Bangkok. Police inquiries have revealed that Mr. Phakeewut is a resident of Muang in Nontha Buri province. Police have collected all the evidence and are currently investigating the fraud in order to catch the offenders and bring them to justice.

Extraordinarily, Mr. Phanitchasri has announced that any money recovered as a result of the investigation will be awarded to the officer responsible for the arrest of the offender. He revealed to the media that he wants his case to be made public in order to serve as a lesson for other citizens.

www.pattayadailynews

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2010-01-15

you can be a prominent property developer, even with half the brain, if you have a well positioned friend.

my wife, only with a very little of a formal education, did not fall for an exact scam half year ago.

prominent businessman doesn't read newspapers - the scam was going for a while now and there were many warning articles

Excuse me but am I missing something here? Who is this " Vice President of Thailand " who is a friend of this gentleman's?

^ Yeah, and old Somchai Khunpluem is now just a lowly administrator?

^^ As for the jibes about being rich but not smart; to be fair, at 74 years-old, the victim isn't exactly a spring chicken and if he has ever had reason to use an ATM machine before which is unlikely IMHO, he probably had someone use the ATM for him while he sits in the back of the limo. Witness that he uses his daughters credit cards which tells me he is probably a well-off Thai-Chinese who has other people doing menial stuff for him... like in the soaps and movies. They move in different circles from us plebs.

Having wealth doesn't mean being savvy about money scams. Just look at all those rich, educated non-Thai people that gave Bernie Madoff their life savings.

Mr. Somchai Khunpluem (Chon-Buri Administrator)

As far as I know on the run because of a jail sentence. Better known as Kamnan Poh.

And the corrupt BIB collect Bt500,000 while the poor go hungry. Great. Jobs for the boys and those with influential friends.