3 Swedes, 4 Norwegians Arrested In Call Centre Gang Crackdown

[Thai at Heart]

Sitting in a room chatting on the internet constitutes working?

I hope there is a little more evidence to this or they will hardly need Perry Mason to get them off.

"Approximately 10 million baht was discovered having been transferred to the gang’s accounts"

This, plus the fact that they have impounded the computers, found note books with all of the records of what they have been up to ( no doubt nicely laid out for them) with an extensive list of telephone numbers of people that have been ripped off by these scamsters!!! I think that they will need someone a bit more clever than Perry Mason to get them off this rather large hook.

I didn't notice that they had been charged yet with having 10's of millions of baht in their accounts, or having computers with emails on them. If there is a proveable complaint of theft, of course I hope they get the book thrown at them.

If the charge is working without a work permit, as I said, chatting on skype and sending emails isn't the height of illegality is it. I would imagine the reason they haven't been charged with obtaining funds through deception is because as yet, the BIB can't prove it. With no complaint, it isn't illegal for people to send other people money, at least the last time I looked.

[Randee]

I love it how they always give you full names and pictures in Thailand

Would never happen in Europe.

In Thailand you are guilty until you prove you are innocent... a much better system if the police were always to be believed..!! Thats why they can show the pics before a guilty verdict...

you must be loking. you are joking right? tell me you're not serious .... omg

[hardy1943]

I love it how they always give you full names and pictures in Thailand

Would never happen in Europe.

Or in America. Innocent until proven Guilty. I think here is more or less the bragging right of the police.

[jimbeam1]

No not Pattaya o.m.g. Anyway it's about time we had another crackdown.

jb1

[Misterwhisper]

"...written lists of massive telephone numbers."

or should that have been: "...massive written lists of telephone numbers"???

[Topah]

Which one you would choose?

1. 10 million suddenly missing baht to your pockets?

2. Do hard work to find out all who were the victims all around Europe?

I think the no.1 is the most obvious option. Work permit violation can be easily solved and the 10 million baht just "disappears". Who actually knows how much money there was and who believes the criminals. Word against word...

[webfact]

Police round up Scandinavian 'phonescam gang'

Police Wednesday arrested seven Europeans who allegedly used an Internet cafe in Pattaya to make internet calls to victims in Norway and Sweden, duping them into wiring as much as Bt10 million to the gang's bank accounts.

At1.30am Wednesday, police with a search warrant raided the "Viking Internet" shop on Southern Pattaya Road Soi 14 in Pattaya City, arresting seven suspects and seizing 18 computers, 17 LCD monitors and one printer along with documents including lists of telephone numbers.

Arrested were Norwegians Espen Forberg, 41, Sebastian Gjertsen, 21, Martin Gisvold Garathun, 21, and Ida Marie Juhl Falchenberg, 20, and Swedes Ulf Carl Johan Hellbacken, 36, Anders Erik Engzell, 30, and Tommy Viktor Soderlund, 26. They have been charged with working without permits, which they deny.

-- The Nation 2011-02-23

[asiawatcher]

Interesting charge, working without a work permit. But one that brings a maximum jail term of 5 years and/or a fine of 100,000 baht with it.

Some years back a boiler room was busted in a sting between Australian Police and Thai Police. The perps were fined 2,000 Baht each and escorted to the airport. I would love to see these guys taken down to the full extent of the fine and imprisonment. I know friends - some very old - who lost their life savings to these scam artists.

[agord]

Which one you would choose?

1. 10 million suddenly missing baht to your pockets?

2. Do hard work to find out all who were the victims all around Europe?

I think the no.1 is the most obvious option. Work permit violation can be easily solved and the 10 million baht just "disappears". Who actually knows how much money there was and who believes the criminals. Word against word...

1. 10 million baht suddenly missing from your pocket

#2 I won't even attempt to fix for you??

[sydneyjed]

The photo of them tells the tale....They are there on their mobile phones looking really stressed and worried aren't they???Me's betting they'll be back home in mummys' apartment in Oslo,Gotenburg or Stockholme faster than you can say 'Julian Assange'...Pathetic!!!

[PS3Geek]

"They were charged with doing business in the kingdom without work permits"

wow, now that's what I call news

it's common practice in both Western and Asian countries to use a lesser charge to detain suspects until the primary crimes can be fully investigated.

[blackthorn2005]

“Viking Internet” Well, they have come a long was since rape and pillage

The 3 people pictured do not seem very worried

[bitterbatter]

I love it how they always give you full names and pictures in Thailand

Would never happen in Europe.

Yeah, its used to create the public opinion that they are guilty, making the police look like they caught criminals. I also love how they put a picture of arrested people in handcuffs pointing at any evidence upon arrest, months before a court decision is made.

I am not saying whether or not these guys are innocent, just that's how they do it.

[DumFarang]

I don't get it. How do these scams still work?

A) If you are offered a job you don't pay to work. Work pays you plus expenses (if any). Questions?

Are there still people left in the world who don't hang up on telemarketers? My step-dad is now old, I mean oooooold, and he sits there and plays with them for a while like they might have a customer, and then hangs up on them making sure they hear him laugh before the call ends. Is he just a super experienced elderly person or what?

Well of course these a-holes deserve whatever the worst is the judge can give them, but, it's true, they don't look worried. Have to wonder if they'll just pay whatever is asked, relocate, rename, and get back to business as usual.

[TAWP]

They are not worried since they know that the actual crimes is most likely committed (filed) in different EU nations and not here so they cannot be charged with the crimes here - a small flaw with these things...

[mitrapaap]

"written lists of massive telephone numbers"

Just how long were these telephone numbers????????

I'd rather ask what exactly is a "massive" telephone number.

[mitrapaap]

Interesting charge, working without a work permit. But one that brings a maximum jail term of 5 years and/or a fine of 100,000 baht with it.

I guess 300,000 baht will fix the problem and these Noblemen will be free again.....

Maybe another 700,000 Baht and they can get a work permit to continue the scam legally...

[sandgroper2]

"Tourist police raided the scam call centre office that was running over an internet shop by a European gang who used internet overseas calling to defraud the victims abroad."

You guys need to read the posts more carefully then you'd see that it wasnt the internet shop that was raided.... lol

HL

Happylarry, dont you know by now that most of the morons who post blogs here cant read, as proven time and time again.

[61guitarman61]

I love it how they always give you full names and pictures in Thailand

Would never happen in Europe.

Well we are not in Europe...this is Thailand and thats how they do it here....you will find in many Asian countries its a name-em and shame-em game... maybe some pics tomorrow of the re-enactment... ....

You dont think that the two 21 year old guys and 20 year old girl are not going to give the police some "useful information"

I'm all for the name and shame method.... although, I thought TV mods always kicked out the name and shame article content, especially pics. Whatever....

As for the constant flow of farang being busted for this that and the other thing, is it any wonder that visas and permits and cooperation in general is being reduced all the time? Considering the ratio of farang here to the number of news stories coming out with regard to busts, "we" really are a dispicable bunch, know what I mean? No one here is an island and maybe it's time for us to police our own a little bit before they ruin it for us all....................

[fogoyes]

there should be an arrest warrant for mr. kirk phatumanun - edknovate/smartkurve teacher agency - who is pressing his employees - foreign teachers - working on a tourist visa without work permit. and if you ask to often for a legal working status you get easily terminated without payment for already done work in the last month of this typical thai teacher agency employment - but there is not one police officer on duty in such kind of cases - even immigration, MOE and labor ministry don't touch such bullshit thai people!<br>

[moskito]

I don't get it. How do these scams still work?

A) If you are offered a job you don't pay to work. Work pays you plus expenses (if any). Questions?

Are there still people left in the world who don't hang up on telemarketers? My step-dad is now old, I mean oooooold, and he sits there and plays with them for a while like they might have a customer, and then hangs up on them making sure they hear him laugh before the call ends. Is he just a super experienced elderly person or what?

Well of course these a-holes deserve whatever the worst is the judge can give them, but, it's true, they don't look worried. Have to wonder if they'll just pay whatever is asked, relocate, rename, and get back to business as usual.

These "Callcenters" work like normal callcenters in Europe. Its just a little bit cheaper to have them here in Thailand. As far as I know people start working 2 o clock noon, and finish 10 in the evening, saturday and sunday AND public hollidays off. They get around 40K Baht a month, so easy work and easy money. Some of them have work permits, some of them dont. The Callcenter saves a lot of money for a shop the same size in Germany or somewhere esle in Europe and for the staff as well.

Do u really belive when you call a service center for a bank or whatever in England, somewhere in England they will answer the call? Its India where the call centers are located. Welcome to the 21st (:

[tim armstrong]

Interesting charge, working without a work permit. But one that brings a maximum jail term of 5 years and/or a fine of 100,000 baht with it.

I guess 300,000 baht will fix the problem and these Noblemen will be free again.....

Oh Sirchai so cynical, but true. In the photo they look remarkably relaxed, and clearly have comfortable chairs, with no need for handcuffs or anything else. The one in the middle looks a bit more disgruntled. I reckon he's been told 500,000 and is not happy.

[DumFarang]

I don't get it. How do these scams still work?

A) If you are offered a job you don't pay to work. Work pays you plus expenses (if any). Questions?

Are there still people left in the world who don't hang up on telemarketers? My step-dad is now old, I mean oooooold, and he sits there and plays with them for a while like they might have a customer, and then hangs up on them making sure they hear him laugh before the call ends. Is he just a super experienced elderly person or what?

Well of course these a-holes deserve whatever the worst is the judge can give them, but, it's true, they don't look worried. Have to wonder if they'll just pay whatever is asked, relocate, rename, and get back to business as usual.

These "Callcenters" work like normal callcenters in Europe. Its just a little bit cheaper to have them here in Thailand. As far as I know people start working 2 o clock noon, and finish 10 in the evening, saturday and sunday AND public hollidays off. They get around 40K Baht a month, so easy work and easy money. Some of them have work permits, some of them dont. The Callcenter saves a lot of money for a shop the same size in Germany or somewhere esle in Europe and for the staff as well.

Do u really belive when you call a service center for a bank or whatever in England, somewhere in England they will answer the call? Its India where the call centers are located. Welcome to the 21st (:

Are they not telemarketing/scamming? Last I checked they always call people not the other way around, hence the lists of telephone numbers found at the site.

Like I said, I'm always amazed to find out there are still people in the world who don't just hang up on these guys.

[Arkady]

there should be an arrest warrant for mr. kirk phatumanun - edknovate/smartkurve teacher agency - who is pressing his employees - foreign teachers - working on a tourist visa without work permit. and if you ask to often for a legal working status you get easily terminated without payment for already done work in the last month of this typical thai teacher agency employment - but there is not one police officer on duty in such kind of cases - even immigration, MOE and labor ministry don't touch such bullshit thai people!<br>

I don't condone such exploitive behaviour but teachers should be aware that they are committing a serious criminal offence by working on a tourist visa without a work permit and should not accept such illegal work in the first place. Unfortunately it is an imprisonable offence only for the foreign employee and not (since the law was changed in 2008) for the employer. Teachers with good qualifications can usually get proper jobs, while those without qualifications should go home.

[Arkady]

Good. Let's hope they will go after the bogus financial advisors scamming foreigners in Thailand next, or maybe they are paying too much squeeze to the BiB. Some have quite substantial boiler room operations in Bangkok with websites making them out to be legitimate financial supermarkets, offering everything from fund management to insurance to mortgages to wealth management as well as the usual dodgy offshore life insurance policies disguised as pensions to financially illiterate expats and retirees. Let's not forget the timeshare and holiday club scamsters while we are about it.

Anyway I am not holding my breath, since these businesses are lucrative enough to make substantial pay offs. The last time there was a major crack down on boiler rooms all that happened was that a few people got fined and deported for working without work permits, in spite of a massive amount of evidence about the scams found in Thailand and evidence provided by the Australian and New Zealand police forces. However, a few will publicised prison sentences for such thieves might make the foot soldiers think twice about taking the jobs and save some people from being robbed.

Edited February 23, 2011 by Arkady

[Arkady]

These "Callcenters" work like normal callcenters in Europe. Its just a little bit cheaper to have them here in Thailand. As far as I know people start working 2 o clock noon, and finish 10 in the evening, saturday and sunday AND public hollidays off. They get around 40K Baht a month, so easy work and easy money. Some of them have work permits, some of them dont. The Callcenter saves a lot of money for a shop the same size in Germany or somewhere esle in Europe and for the staff as well.

Do u really belive when you call a service center for a bank or whatever in England, somewhere in England they will answer the call? Its India where the call centers are located. Welcome to the 21st (:

People in Bangalore or Angeles City speaking with phony accents and giving you inaccurate information on behalf of a bank or airline are one thing but these people were stealing money from their marks pretending to be an employment agency or provide some telemarketing product. If Thailand allows these crimes to take place from its territory because it can't or won't control its corrupt police, then the Thai government is complicit in the theft.

[Dap]

Interesting charge, working without a work permit. But one that brings a maximum jail term of 5 years and/or a fine of 100,000 baht with it.

These callcenters are all over Thailand. I know two of them in Phuket. One of the biggest has comercial adds all over the internet in Chiang Mai. They are looking for girls only (:

Why not report them to the local cops ... just a slight suggestion.

[balo]

I'm a Norwegian and I hope they get what they deserve.

In Norway we have one of the lowest unemployment rates in the world so its very easy for them to get a nice paid job there. I dont feel sorry for them.

[prinzregent]

Why - the CALL CENTER - clbs.co.th/jobs/index.php - ONLY take women ? What do they THAI do with the western women in Chiang Mai ??? Do they f__k them ?

[moskito]

These "Callcenters" work like normal callcenters in Europe. Its just a little bit cheaper to have them here in Thailand. As far as I know people start working 2 o clock noon, and finish 10 in the evening, saturday and sunday AND public hollidays off. They get around 40K Baht a month, so easy work and easy money. Some of them have work permits, some of them dont. The Callcenter saves a lot of money for a shop the same size in Germany or somewhere esle in Europe and for the staff as well.

Do u really belive when you call a service center for a bank or whatever in England, somewhere in England they will answer the call? Its India where the call centers are located. Welcome to the 21st (:

People in Bangalore or Angeles City speaking with phony accents and giving you inaccurate information on behalf of a bank or airline are one thing but these people were stealing money from their marks pretending to be an employment agency or provide some telemarketing product. If Thailand allows these crimes to take place from its territory because it can't or won't control its corrupt police, then the Thai government is complicit in the theft.

you hit the nail on the head. as long as some bib have open pockets for some teamoney out of these kind of businesses who is to blame? Thailand becomes more and more Land of Scammers with knowledge of the Authorities......never happend when Thaksin is still here (: