AMLO reveals 203 bank accounts linked to foreign-run call centre frauds

[webfact]

AMLO reveals 203 bank accounts linked to foreign-run call centre frauds



BANGKOK: -- The Anti Money Laundering Office (AMLO) revealed Monday 203 bank accounts which were hired by Chinese and Taiwanese call centre gangs to open for money transactions and warned account owners to close their accounts immediately or else they could face arrest on conspiracy charge.

Warning by AMLO chief Pol Col Sihanart Prayoonrat came after officials have investigated and detected money laundering and fraud cases involving the Chinese and Taiwanese-run call centre gangs making calls to victims in their countries to extort money from them, and told them to transfer money into bank accounts of local people they hired to open in Thailand.

Pol Col Sihanart said officials found 203 accounts to be engaged with the fraud gangs and were used for transactions of criminally-derived cash extorted from victims through ATMs.

He said owners of these accounts were hired by call centre gangs to open in exchange for 2,000-3,000 baht as reward.

Of all these accounts, 69% were hired to open in the northern provinces, 24% in central provinces, 6% in the northeast provinces, and 1% in the East. No account was discovered to be opened in the South, he said.

He said officials also found some persons to open 20-30 accounts each for money transactions.

He then warned owners of these 203 bank accounts to immediately contact banks to close all accounts otherwise AMLO will issue them arrest warrants on conspiracy in frauds, and could also face money laundering charge which they might face asset seizure.

People are also warned not to open bank account for other persons for use to deposit legitimate and criminally-derived cash otherwise they too could face conspiracy in frauds and money laundering charges.

Opening bank account for criminal use faces imprisonment from 1-10 years in prison, and a fine of 20,000-200,000 baht, he said.

He asked the people to check their accounts at www.amlo.go.th to find out if they are among the 203 accounts told to close.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/amlo-reveals-203-bank-accounts-linked-foreign-run-call-centre-frauds/


-- Thai PBS 2014-06-23

[EricBerg]

Why not freeze the accounts? Then try to return money to the victims. The rest can go to the treasury. And inform Chinese and Taiwanese authorities about the frauds and possibly about the people behind it.

Anyway, another success in fighting crime. The new boys really put up an effort. The military government is only one month in office.

Go Prayuth go.

[Tatsujin]

Did I read this correctly . . . ? They are not arresting or charging the owners of these bank accounts (that have been laundering money) but are simply warning them to take the money out and close the accounts????

[clockman]

Not enough jails, so have to let them go.

[Lupatria]

Are the bankers here too stupid to identify, or too much benefiting from these fraud bank accounts?

[UbonRatch]

Earlier in the news today, and quote; "Current Thai law says that making preparation for corrupt activity is not illegal."

Now we have, and quote; "Opening bank account for criminal use faces imprisonment from 1-10 years in prison, and a fine of 20,000-200,000 baht"

So please, what's the difference between opening a bank account for criminal use and making preparation for corrupt activity?

<deleted>ing <deleted>ing <deleted>ocks of a non-terrestrial kind!

When will they ever understand how to get things right, or even consistent?

[wirat69]

Did I read this correctly . . . ? They are not arresting or charging the owners of these bank accounts (that have been laundering money) but are simply warning them to take the money out and close the accounts????

No, I think that you misread.... the laundry guys did not own the "washing machine" accounts, just operated them. The owners of the accounts did not operate the ins and outs, probably all conducted online.....

Edited June 23, 2014 by wirat69

[KhunMoo]

involving the Chinese and Taiwanese-run call centre gangs.

So when do they target, the ones run by English/OZ chaps, with really ugly tattoos? So we can get Suk-Soi 11 back to normal?

...It's a disgrace, that those people was ever allowed into "normal business". And the more those people buy in that soi, the more it gets flooded with ugly prostitutes, drugs, scams -you name it.

At current state, its not worth going out there any more.

[Tatsujin]

Did I read this correctly . . . ? They are not arresting or charging the owners of these bank accounts (that have been laundering money) but are simply warning them to take the money out and close the accounts????

No, I think that you misread.... the laundry guys did not own the "washing machine" accounts, just operated them. The owners of the accounts did not operate the ins and outs, probably all conducted online.....

Right, so the "owners" of those accounts (who are just as guilty of money laundering) are being given a get out of jail free card. That's just wrong. They are all complicit, all guilty, and should ALL be punished.

[ggold]

He then warned owners of these 203 bank accounts to immediately contact banks to close all accounts otherwise AMLO will issue them arrest warrants on conspiracy in frauds, and could also face money laundering charge which they might face asset seizure.

This is a joke surely! They should freeze these accounts. Unless this is a warning for the Thai's involved to take this money and run before the chinese take all the money. Wonder how the Chinese will view this, won't they want this money returned to the rightful owners. Oh I forgot the Thai's have it!

maybe AMLO should rename themselves! AMLS

Asia's Money Laundering Services!

Edited June 23, 2014 by ggold

[TerryLH]

"...but are simply warning them to take the money out and close the accounts????"

Wasn't there an earlier article saying that money was put in these accounts and immediately taken out? No money to 'freeze'.

Also, by warning them, there will probably be a lot of other accounts that the government doesn't know about closed.

[FangFerang]

This is very confusing to me. No assets were frozen, the accounts are still open, and the holders are told to go to a website to see if they are listed.

Amazing Thailand. Maybe they are trying to spook the game out of the brush?

[MMarlow]

Did I read this correctly . . . ? They are not arresting or charging the owners of these bank accounts (that have been laundering money) but are simply warning them to take the money out and close the accounts????

It didn't say that they will not be charged, they have been told to close the accounts. They may well be arrested when they try to close the accounts. It is very likely that the accounts will not contain any money as the fraudsters withdraw all funds as soon as the account is credited, there is no reason for the funds to remain in the accounts of the hired account openers.

After this report, which will in part be designed to disrupt the fraudsters operations, it is actually very unlikely that the accounts will be closed by the account holders as they will be be very wary of going anywhere near the banks or using the accounts for obvious reasons.

[MMarlow]

Are the bankers here too stupid to identify, or too much benefiting from these fraud bank accounts?

No, they clearly have co-operated with AMLO as the accounts have been identified, as per the report. As for your allegation that the banks are benefiting some way you have to bear in mind that when a Thai opens a savings account they will not be asked if the account is to be used to receive the proceeds of foreign scammers frauds so how can the banks benefit?

[Hawk]

Did I read this correctly . . . ? They are not arresting or charging the owners of these bank accounts (that have been laundering money) but are simply warning them to take the money out and close the accounts????

Something like that! Criminals helping criminals, so tough sh** for the victims.

[Tatsujin]

Did I read this correctly . . . ? They are not arresting or charging the owners of these bank accounts (that have been laundering money) but are simply warning them to take the money out and close the accounts????

It didn't say that they will not be charged, they have been told to close the accounts. They may well be arrested when they try to close the accounts. It is very likely that the accounts will not contain any money as the fraudsters withdraw all funds as soon as the account is credited, there is no reason for the funds to remain in the accounts of the hired account openers.

After this report, which will in part be designed to disrupt the fraudsters operations, it is actually very unlikely that the accounts will be closed by the account holders as they will be be very wary of going anywhere near the banks or using the accounts for obvious reasons.

Your post makes absolutely no sense at all. You say the account holders will be wary to use or close the accounts. For what? They already know who owns the accounts and what money has gone in and out of them. They warned them for <deleted> sake! lol