Romeo con artists cheat women in 'Phuket Airport' scam

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Romeo con artists cheat women in 'Phuket Airport' scam
Prapaporn Jitmaneeyaphan

PHUKET: -- Several stories have appeared in national newspapers and on TV recently about Thai women being scammed by foreign men they met on the Internet and fell in love with.

Despite the stories, however, Montira Cherdchoo, Phuket Airport Customs Director says she encounters an average of two similar scam stories every week involving women seduced online into giving up large sums of money.

The scam is similar to the classic “Nigerian scam” whereby victims are offered a share of huge amounts of money if they first pay an “administration fee” of some sort.

It has the additional twist that the fraudsters seduce their credulous victims over several months so that, believing themselves to be in love, they give up the money more easily.

Ms Montira said, “From questioning these Thai ladies, we found that most of them had known their guys only three or four months, from chatting online.”

There are three variations on the scam, she said. In the first the scam artist tells the victim he has sent her a large amount of cash in a package, but that it has been stopped by Customs at the airport, and a fee or fine must be paid, in Thailand in Thai baht, to release the cash.

The second version is very similar but in this case the package contains expensive handbags or other luxury items, with duty owing on them.

In the third version, the scamster claims to have been arrested by Customs at the airport for carrying too much money into the country while on his way to meet his beloved.

In each case the victim gets a call from a Thai woman, sometimes posing as a logistics company employee or, often as a customs officer. The woman tells the victim the details of an account into which the “fee”, “fine” or “duty” should be transferred, and the amount, and assures the victim that after payment is made, the parcel will be sent on to the victim, or the boyfriend will be released.

Once the payment is made, that’s the last the victim hears from her “boyfriend”.

Ms Montira said that, despite the fact that the scam may seem obvious, she sees an average of two women a week – typically from Thai provinces far away – who come to her office to claim their “packages”.

She told The Phuket News that she wanted to warn Thai women about the scams. She believes that there are many more victims but, embarrassed and down at heart when they realise they have been cheated out of money, and feeling foolish that they have been cheated in love, they decide to take no action.

She explained Customs regulations. “If you are paying duty on goods, you must [come here to] see your package before you make any payment.

“At the Airport Customs office, we will check official documents such as an ID card or passport. We will see if the name on ID is correct and matches with the name of the recipient of package.

“You cannot pay by bank transfer. The only way to pay duty is in cash at the Airport Customs office.

“Also, we do not provide any service for sending packages on to people. They must come and collect the package themselves or they can send someone with a written power of attorney to collect it for them.

“Most of the Thai women who were swindled live in other provinces; it makes it easier to cheat them because it is more difficult for them to come to the airport in Phuket and check that the parcel actually exists.

“Some women do call telephone us to to check what’s going on [and avoid being cheated] but others don’t check; they just transfer the money right away because they want to get the gift from their ‘boyfriend’, or to see their beloved’s face.

“Some of them don’t believe they have been cheated, or they want to be certain, so they fly from home to Phuket to see for themselves what really happened. Some even bring a lawyer with them.

“That’s when they find out for sure that they have been deceived.”

The scammers by no means confine themselves to using Phuket Airport Customs. At Chiang Mai Airport a Customs official who asked not to be named told The Phuket News they come across three to five cases a month.

The scam artists do their homework, she said. They use the actual names of Customs officers – which are freely visible to the public on a board at the airport or in the Customs website – to make the scam more plausible.

At Suvarnabhumi Airport Customs, an officer who also asked not to be named said they get about three cases a month. Last week, a man and a woman came from Southern Thailand to help the woman’s the woman’s “boyfriend” who was supposedly locked up in Customs cells after trying to bring a large amount of money into the country.

The Customs officers at Suvarnabhumi told them that they were not holding anyone – that they do not even have cells – and that in any case anyone may bring as much money as they wish into the country. The only rule is that if the amount is more than US$20,000 (B600,000) it must be declared to Customs. Even then, there is no fee of any kind.

So what is the remedy for victims? In Phuket, Pol Col Sermphan Sirikong, Superintendent of Phuket City Police Station said, “If we receive a report about this kind of fraud, and we conclude that the report is plausible, then, for sure, we will take legal action.”

But if no crime has actually taken place in Phuket – which certainly seems to be the case – will Phuket police have the power to investigate? Come to that, where did the crime actually take place? In the victim’s home province? In the location of the bank account? Somewhere overseas?

An official at the Bangkok Damrongtham Centre, who asked not to be identified, suggested that victims either call the centre on 1567, or send the centre a letter. Damrongtham officials will then investigate and try to find ways to help the victim.

When The Phuket News finally got through on the 1567 hotline, we were advised to contact the Consumer Protection Board at 1166. The CPB referred us to the Consumer Protection Police (1135), who said victims should contact the Tourist Police in the province where the crime took place.

This, they said, would be the place where the non-existent parcel should have been – Phuket, Bangkok or Chiang Mai. The Tourist Police should be contacted because a foreigner was involved in the scam.

The Phuket News contacted Pol Lt Ekachai Khuru of the Phuket tourist police, who said, “People you think they may be caught up in a scam can call us on 1155 if they are suspicious about the existence of a parcel. The police will help verify with Customs at the airport involved.

“In the case of the victims who have already transferred money, they should report the crime to the provincial police.”

But, he added, “This kind of case is difficult for local police to handle because it is a transnational crime. I think the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) in Bangkok might be more able to help the victims better than we are.

“But I would like to warn people, Don’t be too quick to trust others,” he added.

The Phuket News tried repeatedly calling the TCSD in Bangkok at 02 1422 555. There was no answer.

It seems that help is not exactly at hand for the heartbroken and ripped-off victims of the seductive scam artists.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/romeo-con-artists-cheat-women-in-%E2%80%98phuket-airport%E2%80%99-scam-41578.php


-- Phuket News 2013-08-26

[Slaps]

Pot Kettle

.

[dudu]

Love and greed,what a lethal combination.....

[retell]

nice article with a good explanation for thai woman what to do and dont now i hope they will publish this on sanook and such sites in thai as clear as the english here

[Tatsujin]

I thought it was the other way around . . . good to see a bit of payback

[LivinginKata]

I thought it was the other way around . . . good to see a bit of payback

[retell]

I thought it was the other way around . . . good to see a bit of payback

cha cha will come just sit back pop open a beer and wait

[uty6543]

could someone write a list publish a book of all the scams we can fall victim to

[retell]

could someone write a list publish a book of all the scams we can fall victim to

they allready got some online thing they call thaivisa.com

many many scams and other things got unmasked there

[jayceenik]

For a time I corresponded on ThaiLoveLinks with a very pleasant lonely-heart Prachuap KiriKhan 34yo girl.

She came to stay a few times in my BKK place.

During those stays I let her use my laptop and could watch over as the poor girl was bombarded on her TLL account and by email by scam artists' imaginative creations. Including the parcel story like described above.

She was a straight girl with no malice, full of hope to meet Mr Right online and just didn't catch on that she was being played. I had to carefully explain to her that, unfortunately, many of her prospective cyberlovers were just criminals out to cheat her of money. And, yes, she was educated with a Uni degree. No bar background.

She eventually met a TLL guy to love. A 50yo German with a good job and a nice house.

Right from the beginning it was certain that this guy was for real as he soon paid for her to go study German at the BKK Goethe Institut.

They got married last December in Germany where she lives now. I'm very happy for her.

Edited August 26, 2013 by jayceenik

[Hugh Jarse]

For a time I corresponded on ThaiLoveLinks with a very pleasant lonely-heart Prachuap KiriKhan 34yo girl.

She came to stay a few times in my BKK place.

During those stays I let her use my laptop and could watch over as the poor girl was bombarded on her TLL account and by email by scam artists' imaginative creations. Including the parcel story like described above.

She was a straight girl with no malice, full of hope to meet Mr Right online and just didn't catch on that she was being played. I had to carefully explain to her that, unfortunately, many of her prospective cyberlovers were just criminals out to cheat her of money. And, yes, she was educated with a Uni degree. No bar background.

She eventually met a TLL guy to love. A 50yo German with a good job and a nice house.

Right from the beginning it was certain that this guy was for real as he soon paid for her to go study German at the BKK Goethe Institut.

They got married last December in Germany where she lives now. I'm very happy for her.

Always good to hear a happy tale.

[lee b]

typical

[BruceSmith]

could someone write a list publish a book of all the scams we can fall victim to

they allready got some online thing they call thaivisa.com

many many scams and other things got unmasked there

Mostly other things :-)

[Colabamumbai]

Well I must say I have been learning how to on TVF. here.

I notice the lack of advice to foreigners regarding Thai women, who will ask for many things, money, houses, sick buffalo, marriage etc.

Many times a scam to get the foreigners money. To be fair ladies, there are many Thai woman who are more interested in your companionship than your money, or at least do not ask.

How much rent you pay? how much motorcycle you pay? how much you buy car? How much money to you make? Tow rye Tow rye Tow rye

And fellows if you know some here in Isaan, let me know.

[hansgruber]

Well I must say I have been learning how to on TVF. here. 

 

I notice the lack of advice to foreigners regarding Thai women, who will ask for many things, money, houses, sick buffalo, marriage etc. 

 

Many times a scam to get the foreigners money. To be fair ladies, there are many Thai woman who are more interested in your companionship than your money, or at least do not ask.

 

How much rent you pay? how much motorcycle you pay? how much you buy car? How much money to you make?        Tow rye   Tow rye   Tow rye

 

And fellows if you know some here in Isaan, let me know.

Many men come here and let their little head make the decisions.

Once the big head catches on, it's too late.

[Cuban]

As news spreads it will just give Thai scammers new ideas.

[razer]

This happens to women everywhere, not just Thai women and press releases like this are nothing but a distraction from the real problem of crime and corruption that will surely destroy this country as the world around Thailand moves forward in sociopolitical and economic development.

[upena]

"In each case the victim gets a call from a Thai woman"

Any in the Thai Police force think to find her?

[blackman]

one Thai lady on a dating site

six danish guys all in love with her but unknown to each other

all six send money for a visa

she gets visa , sends receipt to all six

all six send money for flight

she buys flight, sends copy of ticket to all six

on arrival day, she doesn't arrive

all six find they are waiting for the same woman

[belg]

karma is a bxxxx

for every thai woman being conned, there must be 100x farang man to be conned by those creatures

[Carrerakiss]

I feel sorry for the women who get duped. But this happens in many countries. However, in most you can report the crime to the police who may even try to catch the scam artists. Anyone notice that from this article no police dept wanted to even take down the details, let alone investigate. How hard would it be to set up a sting operation?

I guess harder than setting up a roadblock and taking 200 baht fines.

[atyclb]

For a time I corresponded on ThaiLoveLinks with a very pleasant lonely-heart Prachuap KiriKhan 34yo girl.

She came to stay a few times in my BKK place.

During those stays I let her use my laptop and could watch over as the poor girl was bombarded on her TLL account and by email by scam artists' imaginative creations. Including the parcel story like described above.

She was a straight girl with no malice, full of hope to meet Mr Right online and just didn't catch on that she was being played. I had to carefully explain to her that, unfortunately, many of her prospective cyberlovers were just criminals out to cheat her of money. And, yes, she was educated with a Uni degree. No bar background.

She eventually met a TLL guy to love. A 50yo German with a good job and a nice house.

Right from the beginning it was certain that this guy was for real as he soon paid for her to go study German at the BKK Goethe Institut.

They got married last December in Germany where she lives now. I'm very happy for her.

Exactly how useful are university degrees from an educational system NOT teaching critical/analytical thinking in addition to other things like rote memorization and automatically passing students.

[draftvader]

I wouldn't mind wagering that this is somebody who has been on the other end of the deal before.

[SOTIRIOS]

...poor innocent Thai victims....

...they willingly join in an illegal proposition....

(...at the same time, when a Thai woman marries a foreigners and takes everything except his undershirt...........no scam there)

....these are outright cons that have gotten conned....they deserve it....

(...the innocent foreigners that come here with their hearts on their sleeves, do not deserve it...and no justice for them)

....like the prostitutes that go overseas and when they don't like something or get in conflict....cry slavery or whatever....

....lies are a way of life for Thais, unfortunately.....

Edited August 27, 2013 by SOTIRIOS

[HerbalEd]

I thought it was the other way around . . . good to see a bit of payback

So just because you got scammed you delight in seeing other Thai women hurt and humiliated? Instead why not accept the responsibility and blame yourself, not these innocent women.

Edited August 27, 2013 by HerbalEd

[HerbalEd]

...poor innocent Thai victims....

...they willingly join in an illegal proposition....

(...at the same time, when a Thai woman marries a foreigners and takes everything except his undershirt...........no scam there)

....these are outright cons that have gotten conned....they deserve it....

(...the innocent foreigners that come here with their hearts on their sleeves, do not deserve it...and no justice for them)

....like the prostitutes that go overseas and when they don't like something or get in conflict....cry slavery or whatever....

....lies are a way of life for Thais, unfortunately.....

Regarding those ".... innocent foreigners that come here with their hearts on their sleeves, do not deserve it...and no justice for them." Many of those guys are out and out fools. Some fat-bellied, ugly old fart has a hot young Thai girl shower him with attention ... and probably the best sex of his life ... and then he's shocked and outraged when she scams him. Really? Can anyone be that stupid?

Hell, he should just pick himself up, laugh at his silly self and thank the girl for a good time. Ting tong.

[Tatsujin]

I thought it was the other way around . . . good to see a bit of payback

So just because you got scammed you delight in seeing other Thai women hurt and humiliated? Instead why not accept the responsibility and blame yourself, not them.

Oh climb down off your high horse lol

It was a tongue-in-cheek comment. I've not been scammed by any Thai women but know many who have.

[Monkeyrobot]

Been around for a long time this scam & mainly the Nigerians posing as Farangs on the net.

[KuhnPaen]

Karma karma karma karma karma chameleon.

[jayceenik]

I feel sorry for the women who get duped. But this happens in many countries. However, in most you can report the crime to the police who may even try to catch the scam artists. Anyone notice that from this article no police dept wanted to even take down the details, let alone investigate. How hard would it be to set up a sting operation?

I guess harder than setting up a roadblock and taking 200 baht fines.

Online you can find a few VDO (in French) about sting operations conducted in Western Union bureaus and cybercafés in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, at the request of Swiss and French police (who travelled there and were present at the stings though not intervening) in collaboration with their Ivoirians colleagues.

Those scams were of the love you madly please send money type aimed at French citizens and French speaking Swiss.

Some of these guys were caught in the act, taken to the police and then forced to communicate again with their targets and then confess to them that they were fake, and that they had been cheated. Other than that they didn't get much punishment and seemingly got to keep the money they had so far received.