Foreign skimmer gang busted in Phuket

Police on Phuket Friday busted a ‘skimmer’ gang of five foreigners that counterfeits credit cards and employ them illegally.

A large sum foreign currency as well as the Thai baht was confiscated along with counterfeiting tools and more than 600 credit cards.

Gang leader Vinothan Thiy Agarasa, 29, from the Netherlands, and four other colleagues from the Netherlands, Norway and Sri Lanka were arrested. They are identified as Gnanapooranan Ratnasabapathy,51, from Norway, Nesaruban Arunachalam, 28, from India, Hussain Qasim, 31, from Norway, and Qaiser Abbas Shah, 20, from Norway.

All were brought in for a press conference which was held at the Nine Residence hotel in Kathu district.

The confiscated items were also displayed which composed of counterfeiting tools, more than 600 credit cards, a substantial sum of Thai baht and foreign currencies amounting to more than one million baht.

Chief of Karon police station Pol Col Nathaphakin Kwanchaiphit stated that his station had received complaints from tourists that a gang of ‘skimmers’ were operating in the Phuket and he had ordered a team of investigators to look into the matter.

The team was alerted when they discovered that a group of individuals were making substantial purchases of goods and making large cash withdrawals from various ATM machines in different parts of the island.

The four suspects admitted to the crime and also stated that they had been running the credit card scam at many other tourist destinations in Thailand as the security measures in Thailand are below standard and can easily be taken advantage of.

One suspect, Qaiser Abbas Shah, however, still denies the charges in spite of the fact that police have his and his accomplice’s images on closed circuit TV images attesting to their guilt.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/foreign-skimmer-gang-busted-phuket/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=foreign-skimmer-gang-busted-phuket

-- Thai PBS 2014-05-03

four other colleagues from the Netherlands, Norway and Sri Lanka were arrested. They are identified as Gnanapooranan Ratnasabapathy,51, from Norway, Nesaruban Arunachalam, 28, from India, Hussain Qasim, 31, from Norway, and Qaiser Abbas Shah, 20, from Norway.

So what happened to the other collegues from The Netherlands and Sri Lanka?

Guess I will have to be wary of Norwegians. I couldn't even attempt to pronounce their names. Anyway on the Brightside the next Queen of Norway will be an Aussie and instil a little respect back into the country.

Norwegians,...really ????

Norwegians,...really ????

Yes only the Indian dude mentioned have an Indian name.

Well at least the Thais are busting a lot of them now so hopefully they will go somewhere else.

Egypt perhaps? Well maybe not, I think they chop off a hand if caught stealing, 2nd offence the 2nd hand goes, 3rd offence the head goes.

I wonder how much jail time these low life scumbags gets here?

Since when NOrway was colonize by Indian, HUsain Qasim sound very Norwegian..

Considering the names of the guys from "Norway" that really reflects the succesful immigrant-politics there and in Scandinavia....

Glegolo

No chance of forged passports to go with the cards?

Five in ATM skimming network arrested in Phuket
Phuket Gazette -

Police found 700,000 baht cash on them and multiple credit cards. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: Five foreigners believed to be part of a skimming network stretching across Thailand were arrested in possession of multiple credit cards under different names and 700,000 baht in cash yesterday.

Three were caught in the process of skimming an ATM in Karon. The other two were apprehended as they were allegedly attempting to evade officers.

The men were named by police as Viothan Thiyagarsa, 29, from the Netherlands; Gnanapooranan Ratnasabapathy, 51, travelling on a Norwegian passport, but originally from Sri Lanka; Nesaruban Arunachalam, 28, from India; Hussain Qasim, 31, from Norway; and Qaiser Abbas Shah, 20, also from Norway.

“We suspected that they were part of a skimming gang, and have been monitoring all five men since they arrived in Phuket,” said Karon Police Superintendent Nathapakin Kwanchaipruek.

The men have visited Phuket three times in the last year. Instead of leaving a deposit with a credit card at the hotel, they always left their passports and then paid for the rooms in cash after a day or two, explained, Col Nathapakin.

“They stayed for about a week at a time,” he added.

Police swooped in to make the arrests after a local tipped them off that Mr Thiyagarsa was spending an inordinate amount of time at the ATM in front of the Metadee Resort and was using multiple cards to make withdrawals, explained Col Nathapakin.

“Officers rushed to the scene, confronted Mr Thiyagarsa and asked to search his bag. Inside, they found multiple ATM cards and a wad of cash,” said Col Nathapakin.

“After speaking with Mr Thiyagarsa, officers set out to track down the other four suspects.”

Mr Ratnasabapathyr was caught in the act withdrawing money from an ATM at the Ket Kwan junction in Karon and, soon after, Mr Arunachalam was arrested using an ATM in front of the DD Massage Shop, also in Karon, said Col Nathapakin.

“The three scammers were found with a total of 700,000 baht between them,” he added.

Mr Qasim and Mr Shah were caught as they were allegedly attempting to evade police near the Nanai 9 Residence where they were staying.

“We believe these men are part of a scamming network in Thailand, and that there will be more like them. We are continuing to investigate this lead in an effort to stamp out ATM skimming on the island,” said Col Nathapakin.

The five suspects have been charged with ATM fraud.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Five-ATM-skimming-network-arrested-Phuket/29329#ad-image-0

-- Phuket Gazette 2014-05-03

One question regarding the stolen money..whom is this taken from and does the accounts get credited from the returned cash? or is this cash kept as evidence?....Banks get money back to account holders?

Off topic posts removed.

Stop moaning about imports only when it doesn't suit you. Also object to them when they do excellent on sports e.g. for their new country.

One question regarding the stolen money..whom is this taken from and does the accounts get credited from the returned cash? or is this cash kept as evidence?....Banks get money back to account holders?

It is kept as evidence,then the money that is recovered is divided up with the number of claiments.Fight the bank for the rest.

Norway will still have a King in the future, Denmark will get a Aussie as a Queen one day, all the names in this article. Sounds like immigrants and maybe one to be right with nation mentioned. Like it or not it is the bad apples, who destroys life's for the rest of immigrants all over the world

Sent from my X909 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Police better check their passports too... might have beens stolen too as those names sounds neither from The Netherlands or from Norway.

Life time imprisonment for them. Please Thailand, don't let them return to Europe.

Looks as if this crew were making out like bandits, for a while. Good work, Phuket cops!

The Indians and Sri Lankans with European passports are out traveling. Some "fine" people Europe has attracted. While USA vacuum clean the earth for the best brains to fill up the positions in R&D, finance and engineering, the Europeans are opening their homes to the bottom of the barrel from the same countries.

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Since when NOrway was colonize by Indian, HUsain Qasim sound very Norwegian..

Well, they were pillaging like vikings !! Good old asylum seekers though, i bet they're claiming benefits !

Looks like they were all quality imports in the country from which they hold a passport .

The jails in Thailand must be over flowing with these people by now, strange that

no one ever hear what has become of all those hundreds who have been caught

so far, 1,000 baht fine and sent back home?

They will never be Norwegian .. maybe they want, but have been thrown out .. asylum seekers and idiots .. No, this is not a Norwegian name and will never get it .. maybe they use fake passports also

peace and love for the weekend

Egil

My Visa has been skimmed twice in the last three years. Now I never use it in Thailand. Also have taught the other half to give the atm a good tapping and look for cameras too. Personally, with regards to what happens to these people later, I would like ten minutes in a locked room with them and a baseball bat.

Don't use ATMs in dark / hidden areas, before insert your card check keyboard / suspicious objects around the screen.

Don't feed them ,)

I just don't use ATMs anymore. Gave back my card when it got skimmed. Now just go into bank with book and my passport ID. Sure it.s less conveinent. But more secure.

It's very interesting to see that all foreign people catch in ATM Skim are Muslim name with western passport.

a new way of funding for Al Qaeda ?

It's very interesting to see that all foreign people catch in ATM Skim are Muslim name with western passport.

a new way of funding for Al Qaeda ?

Congratulations, you're on top of the list for most ludicrous post of the week.

Norwegians,...really ????

Yes only the Indian dude mentioned have an Indian name.

Well at least the Thais are busting a lot of them now so hopefully they will go somewhere else.

Egypt perhaps? Well maybe not, I think they chop off a hand if caught stealing, 2nd offence the 2nd hand goes, 3rd offence the head goes.

I wonder how much jail time these low life scumbags gets here?

Should be out on bail by now heading for Laos.

wow, they all have such a natural names of native habitants...

Norwegian passports they may have,but norwegians they are not !!!