Estonian Fraudsters Caught In 10 Million Baht Scam

[Rimmer]

Estonian fraudsters caught in 10 Million Baht scam

PATTAYA:-- Bangkok police arrested 2 young Estonian gang members caught in a 10 Million baht fraud .

When two young Estonians came under the scrutiny of Bangkok Police’s Fraud division, the 19 and 24 year old didn’t stand a chance.

Landing in Thailand in August, the two men, Prijatkin Maksim and Melnik Alexandre moved to various accommodation addresses in the country before settling in Nong Prue, near Pattaya which is where they were finally arrested this weekend in an organised raid, along with 40 forged credit cards, new computer equipment and even some of the card receipts from fraudulent transactions.

The card details that were used belonged to innocent cardholders from the USA, UK, Finland and Korea, gleaned by telephonic or internet fraud . Col Tamanoon Mankong and Lt. Col. Geyatesak Sattongoy coordinated the Fraud squad and found evidence that over 10 Million baht had already been stolen either in cash withdrawals or in purchases in the area.

Full story:http://www.pattaya103.com/estonian-fraudsters-caught-in-10-million-baht-scam/

--pattaya103.com 2012-09-16

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[Colabamumbai]

Only here a month, fast police work. Would the banks have informed the police or CCTV cameras? or a combination of both?

[petercool]

Every internet transaction or use leaves a trail so I would imagine it was that, card holder complaints, then where cards were used, then CCTV camera footage, then back-tracking ISP's and so on until capture. Bangkok fraud division were likely asked by Interpol or other international law enforcement agencies to check once the country of card use was known.

[conimex]

Lack of proper paid jobs at their home country, probably made those silly guys to go for the easy money. A jail sentence in one of Thailand's prisons will punish their butts......

[noob7]

Prijatkin Maksim? Mmhh, I wonder, if he has a second passport, and the nationality will get named, too.

[ezzra]

2 were caught, but the problem is that there are many more already doing the same here and many more

will come, thailand is an easy mark for such activities.

[AbhiramaDas]

They are Russians from Estonia, not Estonians.

[Rimmer]

Two Estonian’s arrested in 10 Million Baht Bank Card fraud case by Pattaya Police

The second case of alleged bank card fraud in Pattaya over the weekend saw the arrest of two Estonian Nationals and the seizure of bank cards and sophisticated equipment used to imprint stolen bank account details onto cards so they can be used to withdraw money from.

In a joint operation involving the Center for Economic and Cyber Crimes from Bangkok and Pattaya Police, a raid of a rented apartment in Soi 13 off the Thappraya Road in South Pattaya took place on Saturday Afternoon following intelligence received by the Bangkok unit regarding the bank card fraud operation thought to be worth in excess of 10 Million Baht.

Inside room number B510 Police arrested Mr. Maksim Prijatkin aged 19 and Mr. Aleksandr Melnik aged 24. Inside the room Police seized 40 Bank Cards, a PVC Card Embosser and a number of Laptop Computers, Apple Mac Computers and swipe machines, along with Apple IPads and IPhones. Further investigations revealed the two men work for a transnational network of fraudsters who obtain credit card details from unsuspecting account holders from UK, US, South Korea and Finland.

The two arrestees arrived in Thailand on 27^th August and had moved around various apartments in an attempt to avoid detection.

Full story:http://www.pattayaon...pattaya-police/

-- Pattaya One 2012-09-17

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[Jaivin2011]

Hmm the guy in the orage polo looks yummy! Sure will be a hit in prison. Lol!

[transam]

Chuck 'em in the hotel with the rest. They can and talk about the good old days picking cabbages.

[sirchai]

Even the "Estonia" sank. i do hope they'll have a lot of fun in the near future. I hate people who rip others off---

Edited September 17, 2012 by sirchai

[anon8]

I would like to point out that these 2 guys are Russians, NOT Estonians

[Asiantravel]

this seems to be happening on a weekly basis ? Last week it was Turkish nationals?

for people to be trying this on so often there is something wrong with the credit card system somewhere.

how do they get hold of pin numbers?

[Banzai99]

Only here a month, fast police work. Would the banks have informed the police or CCTV cameras? or a combination of both?

Maybe it was the a tip off from the T.I.B. ( Thaivisa Investigation Bureau )

Edited September 17, 2012 by Banzai99

[Gone]

I say good on the BIB catching these bass-tards. Hopefully these recent arrests will detour these fraud criminals from making Thailand their hub for fraud.

10 million is a lot of money for these kids so I hope they enjoyed some before they go away.........NOT.

[Naam]

I would like to point out that these 2 guys are Russians, NOT Estonians

that's good news because the fraudulent withdrawals were made in Rubles and not in valuable EURos... i think

[anon8]

Naam, just saying they are not Estonians, many readers here may not know it. Am I wrong?